Pope Leo XIV celebrates first mass, urges faith in a troubled world

Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected leader of the Roman Catholic Church, celebrated his first Mass as pontiff on Friday inside the Sistine Chapel, less than a day after his historic election.

In a solemn and symbolic moment beneath Michelangelo’s frescoed ceiling, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost — now the first American pope — warned of a world gripped by “dark nights” and called for renewed faith.

“The absence of faith creates space for fear, division, and despair,” Pope Leo said in his homily, addressing the College of Cardinals who had elevated him to the papacy just hours earlier.

“In these troubled times, the Church must be a beacon, not only of doctrine but of mercy, listening, and hope.”

At 69, Leo XIV succeeds Pope Francis as the 267th pontiff, following a swift conclave that underscored the cardinals’ desire for continuity paired with renewed engagement, particularly with the global South and the increasingly polarized West.

Dressed in simple white papal vestments, Leo appeared calm and focused as he spoke in fluent Italian, weaving references to Scripture with reflections on the Church’s role in a fractured world.

His tone was pastoral but firm, setting a clear theme for his leadership: spiritual renewal and global unity.

Born in Chicago and a member of the Augustinian order, Leo XIV brings a combination of American pragmatism and Latin American pastoral experience, having spent years serving as a missionary and bishop in Peru.

His election reflects the global Church’s shifting demographics and the Vatican’s recognition of a need for broader cultural representation at its highest level.

The Mass, attended only by the cardinals present in the conclave, marked the official beginning of Leo XIV’s papal ministry.

A formal inauguration ceremony is scheduled for next week in St. Peter’s Square, where tens of thousands are expected to attend.

As the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica rang out at the end of the service, there was a palpable sense that a new chapter had begun — one that aims to steer the Church through both internal challenges and an increasingly uncertain world.