Pope Leo XIV laid out his priorities for his papacy on Sunday, criticising exploitation of the poor and autocrats during a homily to a crowd of thousands including world dignitaries.
Speaking in St Peter’s Square, the Pope used his inaugural Mass to echo the priorities of his predecessor, Francis.
He criticised “hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest,” he said.
US Vice President JD Vance, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were among those in attendance. The Vatican said the Pope would later meet Zelensky in private to discuss the war in Ukraine.
The Pope said he wanted to see a more united church, and that people should be not closing themselves off in small groups and or acting superior to the world.
“I come to you as a brother,” he said.
He also said he would seek to govern “without ever yielding to the temptation to be an autocrat”.
Thousands of pilgrims packed the square and stood in reverence as the pope received the symbols of office, blessed the people and issued a strong call for unity.
Before the Mass, there were cheers from the crowd when the pontiff appeared in his popemobile as it drove around St Peter’s Square and down Via della Conciliazione to the river Tiber and back.
There was a strong sense of excitement in the square. Michelle, from Germany, told the BBC she “came on purpose to see the Pope”.
“I arrived yesterday in the morning and I’m leaving in a few hours, so I don’t have much time. It’s very crazy because there’s so many people. I wanted to see the Pope.”
Many of the tens of thousands attending were Catholics, but tourists also came to be part of the historic occasion.
Joe from Missouri in the United States said “we’re on vacation, but it’s great timing. We’re here to see the Pope’s inaugural mass. It’s very special. I’m glad we came early.”
He said he was “extra proud” to see the first Pope from the United States. “That was a surprise. He’s gonna be a wonderful Pope. I am not Catholic, but I grew up Catholic, but this is just inspiring no matter what denomination of Christian you are.”
Also in the crowds was Pia, from Chile, a professor of philosophy at a the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. She told the BBC she felt there was “a new hope in the church.”
Pia said that among the Pope’s first words when he was elected was “Let the peace be with you”, the words of Jesus. And then he said “don’t be afraid”.
“He knows what the world and the church needs. A church that is preaching hope, preaching peace. I think many people are waiting for that,” she said.
The Pope’s official inauguration followed the Mass, with a pallium garment – a white woolen band – placed on the pope’s shoulders, and fixed in place with three pins to represent the nails on the cross.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines then placed on the pope’s finger the Ring of the Fisherman, a symbol of the papacy which bears an image of St Peter.
Pope Leo then took the book of the gospels to bless the people.
