LAST UPDATE | 9 May

POPE LEO XIV is celebrating Mass this morning for the first time since becoming the new head of the Catholic Church.

Robert Francis Prevost, who is originally from Chicago in the US, was elected by fellow cardinals yesterday after the conclave in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.

The 69-year-old returned to the chapel this morning celebrate a Mass with cardinals that was broadcast by the Vatican for viewers around the world to tune in.

In his homily, the new Pope didn’t dwell much on his new position, keeping the focus instead on religious matters.

He said that the Catholic Church is called to “bear witness to our joyful faith in Jesus the Saviour”.

“A lack of faith is  often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society,” he said in his homily.

“Today, too, there are many settings in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced  to a kind of charismatic leader or superman. This is true not only among non-believers but also  among many baptized Christians, who thus end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism,” he expressed.

Closing his homily, Pope Leo XIV said that as he begins his mission as Bishop of Rome, he recalls Saint Ignatius writing that he would “truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ when the world no longer sees my body”.

“Ignatius was speaking about being devoured by wild beasts in the arena – and so it happened  – but his words apply more generally to an indispensable commitment for all those in the Church who exercise a ministry of authority,” he said.

It is to move aside so that Christ may remain, to make oneself small  so that he may be known and glorified, to spend oneself to the utmost so that all may have the opportunity to know and love him.

“May God grant me this grace, today and always, through the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church.”

Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel for Pope Leo XIV's first Mass since he was elected.

Tens of thousands of well-wishers cheered Leo as he appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica on yesterday evening — but many did not know who he was.

Related Reads

Big day in the Windy City: Pope's brother shares childhood stories as Chicagoans celebrate 'Bob'

'Did he just say Prevost?’: St Peter’s Square stunned by first American Pope, Leo XIV

The American, who spent two decades doing missionary work in Peru and was only made a cardinal in 2023, had been on many Vatican watchers’ lists of potential popes although he is far from being a globally recognised figure.

Over the coming days, from today’s Mass to Sunday’s midday Regina Coeli prayer and a meeting with journalists at the Vatican on Monday morning, his actions and words will be closely scrutinised.

In his first speech to the crowds packed into St Peter’s Square yesterday evening, Leo echoed his predecessor Pope Francis with a call for peace.

“Help us, and each other, to build bridges through dialogue, through encounter, to come together as one people, always in peace,” he said.

“We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, which holds dialogues, which is always open.”

Contains additional reporting by AFP