Mass, meeting with the cardinals … What is Leon XIV’s program now that he has become a pope?

That’s it, Habemus Papam. Thursday, May 8, 2025, white smoke raised above the Vatican and Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became the 267ᵉ pope of history (and the first American), spiritual leader of some 1.4 billion Catholics.

The one who chose to be called Leon XIV gave his first mass in the Sistine Chapel this Friday, May 9. And the Vatican revealed the rest of its schedule.

Pontificate inauguration mass on May 18

The inauguration mass of the pontificate of the new Pope Léon XIV will take place on Sunday, May 18, Place Saint-Pierre, announced the Vatican.

Many personalities from around the world are expected for this event which will take place Ten days after the election De Robert Francis Prevost.

As the Catholic Church of France recalls, this mass will see several rites of inauguration of the pontificate take place:

• Cardinal Protodiacre, Dominique Mamberti, will impress the pallium (liturgical papal clothing) before reading a first prayer.
• The dean of the Cardinalice college, will give the fisherman’s ring.
• Finally six cardinals, two in order, among the first present, will lend the obedience.
• Mass will take place and then the pope will read a homily he has written.

Meetings, mass, audience …

But before that, the new pope will have other commitments that the Vatican said.

This Saturday, Léon XIV will meet the cardinals. Sunday, May 11, he will chair the Messe Queen From the Saint-Pierre basilica.

Monday, May 12, the Sovereign Pontiff will receive representatives of the media and Friday those of the diplomatic corps.

Wednesday, May 21, he will hold his first general audience.

For the moment, nothing has been communicated as to potential travel to come.

Soon a first trip?

The choice of the destination of the Pope’s first trip will be observed with great attention, insofar as he will give an additional indication on the direction he intends to give to his pontificate.

His predecessor François had planned to go to Türkiye at the end of May for the 1,700^e Anniversary of the Council of Nicea, an important ecumenical event. Leon XIV could therefore decide to make his first trip abroad.

In 2013, François had surprised by choosing the small Italian island of Lampedusa as the first trip, the gateway to African migrants in Europe, where he had castigated “the globalization of indifference”. The defense of migrants was then one of the pillars of his pontificate.

With AFP.

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