Germany Inauguration ceremony for Pope Leo has begun
The ceremony to inaugurate Leo XIV has begun in the Vatican. This officially marks the beginning of the pontificate of the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church. The American began by praying at the tomb of St. Peter in St. Peter's Basilica. He then went out to St. Peter's Square in a short procession. There he was to receive the insignia of papal power, the fisherman's ring and the so-called pallium, a kind of scarf.
18.05.2025, 10:21
SDA
Several dozen presidents, heads of government, high-ranking representatives of royal houses and other churches traveled to Rome for his inauguration. Leo was elected on May 8 by more than 130 cardinals as the successor to Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday. As Pope, Leo XIV is the head of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.
It is expected that Leo will also address the faithful with a personal message in his sermon. At his inauguration in 2013, Leo's predecessor Francis emphasized that the Church must take care of the "poorest, weakest and least of these" and appealed to them to protect creation. In 2005, the German Pope Benedict XVI emphasized that the Church is young and vibrant, and Pope John Paul II encouraged the faithful in 1978 with the words: "Do not be afraid!"
