POPE LEO MARKS FIRST MASS

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, celebrated his first Mass on Friday in the Sistine Chapel with the cardinals who elected him.

This significant event marks the beginning of his papacy, leading 1.4 billion Roman Catholics worldwide.

Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, Illinois, in 1955, Pope Leo XIV grew up in a devout Catholic family in the Midwest. He spent two decades in Peru, where he became a bishop and a naturalized citizen, before being appointed to a influential post at the Vatican by Pope Francis, who made him a cardinal in 2023.

In the coming days, Pope Leo XIV is expected to:

– Deliver his first Sunday blessing: Pope Leo XIV will deliver his first public Angelus blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s.

– Meet with the press: He will hold an official audience with the international press corps.

– Undertake his first foreign trip: A planned visit to Turkey to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a landmark event in Christian history.

Upon his election, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of “building bridges” and establishing dialogue, saying, “Together, we must try to find out how to be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges, establishes dialogue, that’s always open to receive.” He hopes to be a “faithful administrator” for the entire church.

The election of Pope Leo XIV has resonated in Chicago, where he grew up. Reverend William Lego, a pastor on the city’s south side who has known Leo since high school, praised the new pontiff, saying, “They picked a good man.”