Pope Leo Prevost Makes Historic Public Debut as First American Pontiff

Pope Leo Prevost Makes Historic Public Debut as First American Pontiff
[Vatican City, May 18, 2025] – According to a Reuters report, Pope Leo XIV made his first official public appearance on Sunday, entering St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican aboard the Popemobile, greeted by a massive crowd and global leaders. Through this inaugural Mass, he officially assumed his role as the new spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics around the world.

The 69-year-old pope, formerly known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, was born in Chicago, USA, making him the first American pope in history. He also holds Peruvian citizenship, making him the first pope with ties to Peru as well.

Security was tight around the Popemobile, but the pope stopped twice to bless three children. The gathering was the largest at the Vatican since the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26. Many in the crowd waved American and Peruvian flags, cheering his arrival.

The faithful shouted “Viva il Papa” and “Papa Leone,” while one man even shouted out the name of the pope’s favorite baseball team, “White Sox, White Sox!”

Cardinal Prevost was elected pope on May 8, 2025, after just 24 hours of conclave deliberations. He succeeds Pope Francis, an Argentine who passed away on April 21 after 12 years of papal leadership.

Among the dignitaries in attendance were U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the presidents of Peru, Israel, and Nigeria; the prime ministers of Italy, Canada, and Australia; German Chancellor Friedrich Merz; and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Members of European royal families also attended, including King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain.

Peace as the Central Message of Pope Leo

In his first speech as pope, Leo XIV declared, “Peace be upon you all.” Since then, he has emphasized peace as the central mission of his papacy. On May 14, speaking to leaders of the Eastern Catholic Churches, he stated, “War is never inevitable,” and expressed the Vatican’s willingness to mediate in global conflicts.

Today’s Mass is also expected to reflect Pope Leo’s vision for the Church. Prayers will be offered in multiple languages—Latin, Italian, Greek, Portuguese, French, Arabic, Polish, and Chinese—underscoring the Church’s global nature.

During the ceremony, the pope will formally receive two important symbols: the “Pallium,” a liturgical vestment signifying his role as a shepherd, and the “Fisherman’s Ring,” a gold ring custom-made for each new pope. Upon a pope’s death, the ring is ceremonially destroyed to mark the end of his papacy.

The world now watches closely to see which path the Catholic Church will take under Pope Leo XIV. So far, his message of peace and humble demeanor have sent a positive signal across the international stage.