VATICAN CITY, May 9: Pope Leo XIV, the first US-born pontiff, celebrated his first Mass as head of the Catholic Church in the Sistine Chapel.
He spoke in English to the cardinals who elected him to follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis, who prioritized social justice.
Leo, the Chicago-born Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost, was elected as the 267th pope, overcoming the traditional taboo against a pope from the US due to the secular power the country holds.
He will be formally installed on May 18 and will preside over his first general audience on May 21.
Leo has asked heads of Vatican offices who lost their jobs to return to work until further notice and implemented one of Francis’ most revolutionary reforms by having three women serve on the Vatican board that vets bishop nominations.
On Sunday, he will deliver his first noon blessing from the loggia in the Vatican auditorium. (AP)
