A few hours after his first appearance on the loggia of the Saint-Pierre basilica, Léon XIV was expected this Friday for a first private mass in front of the cardinals.
Barely elected, and already on the wheel hats. pope Léon XIV was chosen this Thursday, May 8 by the cardinals during the conclave to become the new sovereign pontiff, succeeding François. The American Robert Francis Prevost, 69, is the first American in history to be elected chief of the Vatican.
White smoke came out of the sixtine chapel chimney at 6:08 p.m. on Thursday. An hour later, the Pope was presented in front of a crowd of faithful, Place Saint-Pierre. After a night of festivities around the world, the Holy Father is about to discover and endorse all its papal responsibilities.
A long -awaited first homily
Starting with the celebration, this Friday morning at 11 am, of a private mass with the cardinals at the Sistine Chapel, during which he will pronounce his first homily as a long -awaited Pope. It will be broadcast by the Vatican media.
After this first mass, Leon XIV will honor a series of meetings in the coming days, including the prayer of Queen of heaven This Sunday, at noon. He will then meet journalists on Monday morning at the Vatican.
In addition, according to the Vatican Constitution, another solemn mass will then be held “Within a suitable time”in Saint-Jean-de-Latran cathedral, in Rome. A mass during which the new bishop of Rome will present himself to his diocese.
-The choice of his residence
Quickly, the Pope will have to make different decisions for his pontificate. Will he decide to live at the Sainte-Marthe residence, like François, or will he return to the pontifical apartments located on the third floor of the Palais de Sixte Quint, in a wing of the Apostolic Palace, Place Saint-Pierre? Léon XIV will have the choice.
He will also have to appoint his trusted men, in particular the number two of the Vatican, his cardinal secretary of state. So far, this position has been occupied by Pietro Parolin since 2013, under the Pontificate of François.
Papal symbols presentation
In a few days, Pope Leo XIV will appear again in Place Saint-Pierre on the occasion of his enthronement. During this ceremony, the fisherman’s ring will receive, which represents Saint-Pierre fishing in the net in his boat.
A ring that will be slipped to the annular of his right hand by the dean of the Cardinals College, allowing it to be identified as the successor of the apostle Peter. He will also be put back the “Pall”a strip of fabrics on the chasuble.
Geopolitical challenges, sexual abuse, church governance
Subsequently, the pope will have to look at the hot subjects left by Pope Francis, who en enlivered the church. In particular on international issues where the voice of the new Roman pontiff is expected but not necessarily heard. In this complexity of foreign affairs but also interior of the Catholic Church, three major areas can be delimited as priorities, from discussions between Cardinals before the election, and following the inheritance left by Pope Francis.
The more political, less political files are not included in this list, which await the new Pope. Among them, the continuation of the management of sexual abuse committed by priests. Another priority technical file: the financial management of the structural deficit of the accounts of the Holy See. He will also have to appease an institution sometimes shaken by the Pontificate of François (2013-2025), punctuated by reforms which have been the subject of strong internal criticism. His perfect knowledge of the whole of the Roman Curia (administrative apparatus of the Holy See) should help him greatly in his task. Finally, the response to the geopolitical challenges of a high tension world is a constant for all popes and pontifical diplomacy.
