Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the United States in history, celebrated his first mass before the college of cardinals and expressed: “You have called me to carry the cross and to be blessed,” while requesting their collaboration to expand the Catholic faith.
This time, Leo XIV spoke publicly in Latin and English, after having used only Italian and Spanish in his first appearances before the world from St. Peter's Basilica on Thursday.
“Jesus showed us a model of holy humanity that we can all imitate,” the pope stated, and emphasized: “God, by calling me through your vote (the cardinals), entrusts this treasure to me so that, with your help, I may be a faithful steward.”
El Papa León XIV durante la ceremonia.
Later, the Pope pointed out that the absence of faith causes numerous wounds that affect society as a whole, and he remembered his predecessor: “As Pope Francis has often taught us, we are called to bear witness to the joyful faith in Jesus the savior,” he emphasized.
To conclude, he expressed: “There are also contexts in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced only to a kind of charismatic leader or a superman. And this not only among non-believers but even among many baptized, who thus end up living, in this area, a de facto atheism.”
Leo spoke these words spontaneously at the beginning of his homily, during the mass celebrated this Friday in the Sistine Chapel, before the cardinals who elected him as successor to Pope Francis, with the commitment to continue his legacy.
Regarding the language —one of the highlighted topics since his first public appearance after the conclave—, the first reading of the mass was read in English by a woman, while the second reading, also by a woman, was delivered in Spanish.
El Papa León XIV durante la ceremonia.
The ceremony
Dressed in white and gold attire, Pope Leo XIV walked in procession to the Sistine Chapel, blessing the cardinals as he made his way to the altar, with Michelangelo's fresco of “The Last Judgment” as a backdrop. He recited the opening prayers and chanted the hymns in Latin, while several women read the first biblical readings.
It was in that same chapel, adorned with Renaissance masterpieces, where Leo was elected on Thursday afternoon as the 267th pope, breaking the historical taboo regarding a pontiff of American origin.
In his first public appearance on Thursday night at St. Peter's Basilica, the 69-year-old Augustinian wore the traditional red cape —a garment that Francis had discarded in his election in 2013— which could be interpreted as a gesture of returning to certain more traditional forms after the unconventional style of his predecessor.
“Together, we must try to discover how to be a missionary Church, a church that builds bridges, establishes dialogue, that is always open to receiving —like in this square with open arms— to be able to welcome all those who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, and love,” Leo expressed, speaking in almost impeccable Italian in his first message to the world.
