The newly elected leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first mass on Friday in a private gathering of cardinals at the Sistine Chapel.
The US-born Robert Francis Prevost, who became the 267th pope on Thursday after a secret conclave by his fellow cardinals, delivered his inaugural homily as pontiff.
Addressing the assembled cardinals, Pope Leo XIV began in English, expressing his confidence in their support as he leads the Church in its mission to spread the faith.
“I believe I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me,” he said.
Switching to Italian, he hoped his election would help the Church shine a light on the “dark nights of this world.”
He emphasised the Church’s mission in areas lacking faith and where “technology, money, success, power, or pleasure” are prioritised.
“Even today, there are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent,” he noted, urging the Church to focus its missionary outreach on these areas.
As the new pontiff settles into his role, he will soon begin appointing his Secretary of State and other key cabinet members.
These choices will provide early indications of the direction in which he plans to take his papacy.
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