The Vatican announced newly elected Pope Leo XIV would be inaugurated officially into the papacy on Sunday, May 18.
“The Holy See Press Office announced the upcoming schedule for the newly elected Pope Leo XIV. His inaugural Mass will be held in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18 at 10 am Rome time,” Vatican News stated.
The Pope's inauguration ceremony, also known as the Papal Inauguration Mass, is a significant event in the Roman Catholic Church that formally marks the beginning of a new pope's papacy.
In the ceremony, Pope Leo XIV will receive two key items that are significant in his role as pontiff, marking the shift from Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, April 21.
The ceremony is rich in symbolism, tradition, and public participation, and it will be held at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It begins with a procession into St. Peter’s Square, accompanied by cardinals, bishops, and clergy.
On Sunday, early in the Mass, Pope Leo XIV will be handed the pallium, a white woollen band with six black crosses, which is placed on the Pope’s shoulders by the Cardinal Protodeacon (the senior cardinal deacon).
This ecclesiastical vestment in the Catholic Church symbolizes his authority and marks the Pope’s role as the shepherd of the Church.
In addition to the pallium, Pope Leo XIV will also receive the Ring of the Fisherman, which bears the image of St. Peter casting his net. The ring is presented by the Cardinal Camerlengo and is typically used to seal official documents.
Notably, a new ring is cast for each papacy, and after a pope’s death or resignation, the ring is ceremonially destroyed to mark the end of that pontificate.
Pope Leo XIV will then celebrate Mass, delivering his homily and leading prayers. The event typically lasts about two to three hours, compared to the average weekly Sunday Mass, which usually lasts just over an hour.
The solemn liturgical celebration also involves a group of cardinals kneeling to pledge loyalty and obedience to the new Pope. In the past, every cardinal performed this act, but now only a representative group does so.
Just like a presidential inauguration, the inaugural mass is often seen as a reflection of the new pontiff’s priorities.
Pope Francis’s ceremony emphasised humility and care for the poor, with a homily focused on service and protection of creation—themes he lived up to even through his funeral. Benedict XVI’s inauguration highlighted continuity with tradition and doctrinal clarity.
Pope Leo XIV, also known as American Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected as the new Pope on Thursday, May 8, after a conclave voting process composed of 133 Cardinals. In a historic moment, Cardinal Prevost became the first American Pope in the history of the Catholic church.
