In brief
Leaders from around the globe joined Pope Leo XIV's inaugural Mass in St. Peter’s Square, marking the beginning of his papacy and underscoring the Vatican's international influence.
On Sunday morning, St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City became the focal point for a historic gathering as Pope Leo XIV held his inaugural Mass, attended by numerous world leaders, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio from the United States. This momentous occasion formally initiated Leo’s leadership over approximately 1.4 billion Roman Catholics worldwide.U.S. officials, including Mr. Vance, have expressed congratulations to Pope Leo and acknowledged his American heritage. However, there are lingering questions regarding their rapport, particularly in light of previous criticisms of the vice president’s interpretation of Catholic doctrine by a social media account linked to the new pope.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also in attendance, having engaged in a cordial conversation with Pope Leo prior to the Mass. They discussed proposed cease-fires amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Last Friday, the pope offered to mediate peace talks between Ukraine and Russia at the Vatican, emphasizing the church’s role in fostering dialogue.Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed eagerness to collaborate with Pope Leo, emphasizing shared values of solidarity, justice, and sustainability. He had previously missed Pope Francis's funeral due to the timing coinciding with Canada’s general election.Peru’s President Dina Boluarte led a delegation representing her nation, celebrating the pope’s close ties to Peru, where he spent much of his career and holds citizenship. Boluarte commended the lasting impact of the pope’s dedication to the underserved in Peru.Italian leaders, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella, strongly affirmed their support for the Vatican’s mission of peace and pledged cooperation on issues like ethical AI development.In addition to those mentioned, a host of leaders from various countries, including Australia’s Anthony Albanese, Belgium’s Bart De Wever, France’s François Bayrou, and Germany’s Friedrich Merz, participated in this significant event, perceiving it as an opportunity for global unity and collaboration under the new papacy. Yan Zhuang is a Times reporter in Seoul who covers breaking news.
