The American Robert Francis Prevost, who became the first American pope in history under the name of Léon XIV at 69, celebrated his first mass this Friday morning in the Sistine Chapel before a series of meetings during which his words and gestures will be scrutinized.
The new Pope Léon XIV celebrates his first mass as head of the Catholic Church in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican in the presence of cardinals voters, according to images broadcast live by the Vatican. During this private mass, which started around 11:10 am under the majestic frescoes of Michel Ange, the sovereign pontiff will pronounce a long -awaited first homily.
Leon XIV thanked his peers for his election: “In a particular way, God called me by your election to succeed the prince of the apostles and entrusted me with this treasure so that, with his help, I am the faithful administrator for the good of the whole mystical body of the Church. He did so so that it is always more fully a city placed on a hill, a salvation arch navigating on the waters of history and a lighthouse which illuminates the dark nights of this world.“
During his first appearance Thursday evening in front of a cheers in Place Saint-Pierre Place, Léon XIV addressed more than 1.4 billion Catholics: “May peace be with you all!”were his first words, in an Italian tinged with American accent. “Thank you to Pope Francis”, who died on April 21 at 88, he also launched, very moved.
Faithful and tourists praised with a thunderous applause its appearance on the Balcony of the Basilica while the bells sounded on the whole fly, a little more than an hour after the white smoke was out of the fireplace installed on the roof of the Sistine Chapel.
“It is soft and determined”, The French Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo said this Friday. “Pope Leo XIV will bring his genius specific to the Church, it is something very positive”he said.
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