TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tens of thousands of Catholics and politicians, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance, will gather at the Vatican on Sunday, May 18, 2025, for the inauguration mass of Pope Leo XIV. The inauguration comes after the election of the original name Robert Francis Prevost to succeed Pope Francis.
France 24 reports that the mass will begin at 10:00 am, but at 9:00 am, Pope Leo will make his way into the crowd in the Pope's car, a special vehicle often used by the late Pope Francis to move among the faithful.
Leo will then commence a ceremony rich in ritual and symbolism, including receiving a special papal ring, before delivering a homily that would determine the course of his papacy.
After spending two decades as a missionary in Peru, the 69-year-old man from Chicago is not well-known among the Catholics. However, in the past week, he has given a glimpse of what makes a good leader.
In meetings with journalists, priests, and diplomats, he has repeatedly called for peace in a conflict-ridden world and advocated for social justice. In lighter moments, the sports enthusiast and amateur tennis player met the world's number one tennis player, Jannik Sinner, at the Vatican.
Leo's election has sparked great enthusiasm in the United States. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also a Catholic, will be attending his inauguration.
Before becoming pope, Robert Prevost criticized President Donald Trump's approach to migration on his account. He also condemned Vance, but those messages have been deleted.
Vance is the last world leader to have met with Pope Francis, a day before the Argentine figure passed away on April 21 after serving as Pope for 12 years. Other notable guests expected to attend include Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, who met with Trump at St. Peter's Basilica during Francis' funeral. Also in attendance will be Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz.
Argentine President Javier Milei, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Gustavo Petro of Colombia, and several European nobles are also set to be present.
Italian authorities have deployed thousands of security personnel for the event, in addition to snipers on the rooftops and anti-drone operations.
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