VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV, history’s first American pope, vowed Sunday to work for unity so that the Catholic Church becomes a symbol of peace in the world, offering a message of communion during an inaugural Mass in St. Peter’s Square before an estimated 200,000 pilgrims, presidents, patriarchs and princes.
Pope Leo XIV holds Mass during the formal inauguration of his pontificate Sunday in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful.
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Ukraine's President Volodymr Zelenskyy, left, and Vice President JD Vance greet each other as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, center, looks on ahead of Pope Leo XIV's formal inauguration of his pontificate with a Mass on Sunday in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful.
Pope Leo XIV waves at the end of a Mass for the formal inauguration of his pontificate Sunday in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.
Pope Leo XIV on his popemobile tours St. Peter's Square on Sunday at the Vatican prior to the inaugural Mass of his pontificate.
Photos: A new pope, Leo XIV, is chosen
White smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel where 133 cardinals are gathering on the second day of the conclave to elect a successor to late Pope Francis, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
People react as white smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel where 133 cardinals are gathering on the second day of the conclave to elect a successor to late Pope Francis, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Swiss Guards march after a new Pope was elected when 133 cardinals gathered on the second day of the conclave to select a successor to the late Pope Francis, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Faithful celebrate after white smoke appeared from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel where 133 cardinals gathered on the second day of the conclave to elect a successor to late Pope Francis, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
CORRECTS TO LEO, NOT LEONE - Cardinals following the election of Cardinal Robert F. Prevost as the 267th pope, choosing the name of Pope Leo XIV, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Clerics wave US flags during the speech of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
People listen the speech of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV addresses the faithful from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Nuns react after the announcement of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Pope Leo XIV appears on the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica after being chosen the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV appears on the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica after being chosen the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV appears on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica after his election, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
People react as the newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
People react as the newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV leaves the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after addressing faithful at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
An American flag is waved following the election of Pope Leo XIV, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
A statue of the Bernini Colonnade frames Pope Leo XIV appearing on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica after his election, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Faithful listen the speech of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
FILE - Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, poses for a photo at the end of the consistory where Pope Francis elevated 21 new cardinals in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sept. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca, File)
FILE - Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, leads the recitation of the Holy Rosary for Pope Francis' health in St Peter's Square at the Vatican, March 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
FILE - Newly elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, right, receives his biretta from Pope Francis as he is elevated in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sept. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca, file)
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
In this photo released by the Diocese of Chulucanas, Bishop Robert Prevost leads an anniversary celebration of the Diocese in Chulucanas, Peru, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Diocese of Chulucanas via AP)
In this photo released by the Diocese of Chulucanas, Bishop Robert Prevost presides over Mass in Chulucanas, Peru, Aug. 12, 2024. (Diocese of Chulucanas via AP)
In this photo released by the Diocese of Chulucanas, Bishop Robert Prevost leads the celebration anniversary of the Diocese in Chulucanas, Peru, Aug. 12, 2024. (Diocese of Chulucanas via AP)
In this photo released by the Diocese of Chulucanas, Bishop Robert Prevost, third from right, poses with members of the clergy in Chulucanas, Peru, Aug. 12, 2024. (Diocese of Chulucanas via AP)
