On a sunlit Sunday morning in Rome, history turned another page as Pope Leo XIV officially took the helm of the Roman Catholic Church, stepping into the role with a message aimed at healing old rifts and bridging divides.
Wearing the weight of tradition with humility, the 69-year-old pontiff—born in Chicago but long rooted in Peruvian soil through years of missionary work—didn’t waste time setting the tone for his papacy. Addressing a Church still feeling the tremors of his predecessor’s era, he reached out to those who had grown uneasy or disillusioned under Pope Francis. “I will not govern as an autocrat,” Leo declared firmly, emphasizing collaboration, continuity, and unity.
His installation, marked by an outdoor Mass and a jubilant crowd estimated at 200,000 in St. Peter’s Square and nearby streets, had the air of both celebration and solemnity. Flags waved high American and Peruvian honoring the pope’s dual heritage and symbolizing hope for a more inclusive global Church.
Leo, who was little known outside Vatican circles before his rapid rise, became the 267th pontiff on May 8 following a swift conclave. His election came just weeks after the passing of Pope Francis, who spent 12 years navigating stormy waters—challenging the Church’s status quo, uplifting the poor, and pushing for reforms that stirred deep debate.
In his homily, delivered in fluent Italian, Pope Leo signaled both respect for the road already traveled and readiness for what lies ahead. He pledged to carry forward Francis’ fight against poverty and environmental destruction, while also assuring more traditional factions that the spiritual and doctrinal heritage of Catholicism would remain intact.
