In the present day on the Vatican, highly effective royal and political figures—in addition to over 200,000 spectators—gathered at St. Peter’s Sq. in entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica, for the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV. Following the loss of life of Pope Francis in April, Pope Leo XIV was elected as the brand new chief of the Roman Catholic Church earlier this month, following a two-day conclave that concluded on Might 8. (Notably, Leo XIV—whose full identify is Robert Francis Prevost—is now the first American pope within the Vatican’s historical past. He was born in Chicago, and is now the 267th pope within the church’s historical past.)
A crowd of influential world leaders all gathered for Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass right this moment, which started at 10 a.m. native time and lasted round two hours. In attendance for the ceremony have been King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, Queen Mathilde and King Philippe of Belgium, U.S. vice chairman JD Vance and second girl Usha Vance, U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and first girl Olena Zelenska, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, European fee president Ursula von der Leyen, and Britain’s Prince Edward, to call a number of. All wore considerate trend seems to be rooted in historical past and custom.
