VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Launching his papacy with a call for reconciliation and communion, Pope Leo XIV formally began his ministry as the successor of St. Peter by calling for "a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world."
"In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth's resources and marginalizes the poorest," the new pope said in his homily during his inauguration Mass May 18.
"For our part, we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion and fraternity within the world," he told the estimated 150,000 people gathered in and around St. Peter's Square. "We want to say to the world, with humility and joy: Look to Christ! Come closer to him! Welcome his word that enlightens and consoles! Listen to his offer of love and become his one family: 'In the one Christ, we are one.'"
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, waves as he arrives to celebrate his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Jacquelyn Martin, pool via Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, waves as he arrives to celebrate his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Claudia Greco, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, waves as he arrives to celebrate his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Claudia Greco, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, waves as he arrives to celebrate his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Claudia Greco, Reuters)
An American flag is displayed as Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, waves as he arrives to celebrate his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Claudia Greco, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, waves as he arrives to celebrate his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Yara Nardi, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, waves as he arrives to celebrate his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Yara Nardi, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV gives a "thumbs up" to the faithful in St. Peter's Square as he rides on the popemobile before his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, waves as he arrives to celebrate his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Darrin Zammit Lupi, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, greets a baby as he arrives to celebrate his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Vincenzo Livieri, Reuters)
An American flag is displayed as Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, waves as he arrives to celebrate his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Alessandro Garofalo, Reuters)
A large crowd is seen as Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, celebrates his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Claudia Greco, Reuters)
Cardinals arrive for the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)
Cardinals arrive for the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, waves as he arrives to celebrate his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, waves as he arrives to celebrate his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Yara Nardi, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, arrives to celebrate his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Yara Nardi, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, arrives to celebrate his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, waves as he arrives to celebrate his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, swings a censer near a painting of Mary and the Christ Child as he celebrates his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Yara Nardi, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, celebrates his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Claudia Greco, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, swings a censer as he celebrates his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Claudia Greco, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, celebrates his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, celebrates his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Yara Nardi, Reuters)
Cardinals attend the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, sprinkles holy water as he celebrates his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Claudia Greco, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, sprinkles holy water as he celebrates his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)
A large crowd is seen as Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, celebrates his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)
A large crowd is seen as Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, celebrates his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, celebrates his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, celebrates his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters)
A cardinal places the pallium on Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, as the pontiff celebrates his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters)
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization under Pope Francis, places the papal fisherman's ring on Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, as the pontiff celebrates his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization under Pope Francis, places the papal fisherman's ring on Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, as the pontiff celebrates his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization under Pope Francis, places the papal fisherman's ring on Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, as the pontiff celebrates his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Guglielmo Mangiapane, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, pauses as he celebrates his inauguration Mass at the Vatican May 18, 2025. He is the first American pope in history. (OSV News photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters)
Pope Leo XIV receives the fisherman's ring, symbolizing his role as successor to St. Peter, from Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle during the pope's inauguration Mass in St. Peter's Square May 18, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope Leo XIV greets people at the conclusion of his inauguration Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 18, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
