Pope Leo XIV, the first US pontiff, made his debut tour of St Peter’s Square on Sunday in a popemobile, greeting tens of thousands of pilgrims and well-wishers after his inauguration mass.
Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, who became head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics on May 8, stood in the white vehicle as it drove through cheering crowds, smiling, waving and making the sign of the cross.
US Vice President JD Vance is among the hundreds of dignitaries who attended the inauguration mass that begun at 10:00 am (0800 GMT).
Leo presided over the ceremony rich in rites and symbols, where he received his special papal ring before giving a homily that set the tone for his papacy.
After spending two decades as a missionary in Peru, the 69-year-old is unknown to many Catholics, but during the past week he has offered glimpses of the kind of leader he will be.
In meetings with journalists, clergy and diplomats, he repeatedly called for peace in a world full of conflicts and defended social justice.
He also emphasised traditional Catholic values, including the importance of a family built around a “stable union of a man and a woman”, and defended the rights of the unborn.
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