The newly elected Pope Leo XIV celebrates, this Friday (9), his first Mass as Pontiff. The ceremony will be held at 11am (local time), 6 am in Brasília time, in the Sistine Chapel, in the Vatican.
The Mass will not be attended by the public, being restricted only to the cardinals who participated in the Conclave, but will be broadcast live by the official channels of the Vatican.
The event marks the official beginning of the liturgical ministry of the new leader of the Catholic Church, after its election in the conclave. The eyes of the world turn again to Rome, where the first gestures and words of the new Pope begin to show the direction of his pontificate.
New Pope’s commitments
On Sunday (11), at 6am (Brasília time), it will come back to the faithful to recite the prayer of Regina Coeli, on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
On Monday (12), at 5am (Brasília time), he will meet with journalists and media professionals accredited with the Holy See. The audience will take place in the Vaticano Room, as a gesture of thanks for the coverage of events during his election.
Understand why celebration is symbolic
The first mass celebrated by a Pope is often observed carefully by faithful and experts, as it usually offers signs about the style and priorities of the new pontificate.
In the case of, the celebration held on March 14, 2013 – a day after its election – brought messages and gestures that would mark its performance at the head of the church in the following years.
The Mass, held in the Sistine Chapel, was restricted to cardinals voters and the employees who worked in the conclave. Even so, it was broadcast live to the world, allowing millions of people to follow the first words of the Argentine pontiff.
In his homily – short, spontaneous and in Italian – Francis stressed the importance of “walking, building and professing Jesus Christ.” Without using written text, the new Pope opted for a direct approach.
The choice for a simple and accessible speech, far from formalities such as Benedict XVI in 2005, given in Latin, signaled the desire for proximity and clarity.
Moreover, the highlight for values such as humility, faith and commitment to the gospel indicated the tone that would mark the following years of the pontificate of Francis.
As in 2013, the first mass of, scheduled for this Friday, will be accompanied carefully. The content of the homily, the language used and the topics covered can offer initial clues about the guidelines that the new pontiff intends to follow.
First American Pope
Leo XIV is the name chosen by 69-year-old Robert Prevost, born in Chicago, United States, and since 2015. He is the first American pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church.
Known as the “Pastor of Two Patias”, Predost acted as a missionary in Peru during the 1980s, where he also performed episcopal functions for almost a decade.
Before being elected Pope, he held the position of mayor of the Dicastery for the bishops-an organ responsible for episcopal appointments around the world-and was promoted to Cardinal-bishop in February this year. It belongs to the Order of Agostinians, which led globally.
In his first public appearance as Pope, on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Leo XIV paid tribute to Pope Emeritus Francisco, indicating that he intends to continue the reforms initiated by his predecessor.
-
1 of 12
Crowds celebrate in St. Peter’s Square while waiting for the inauguration ceremony of the new Pope elected • Antonio Masiello/Getty Images
-
2 of 12
Crowds celebrate in St. Peter’s Square while waiting for the inauguration ceremony of the new Pope elected • Antonio Masiello/Getty Images
-
3 of 12
The newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost, speaks to the crowd on the main porch of the central gallery overlooking St. Peter’s Square • Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images
-
-
4 of 12
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of the United States, appearing on the porch of St. Peter’s Basilica • Reuters
-
5 of 12
Pope Leo XIV appears in the central loggia of the Basilica of St. Peter to greet the faithful who fill St. Peter’s Square after his election at the Vatican, on May 8, 2025 • Isabella Bonotto
-
6 of 12
In Spanish, Pope Leo XIV greets “Dear Diocese” in Peru in the 1st speech • CNN Brazil Reproduction
-
-
7 of 12
White smoke comes out of the chimney after an election of again Pope in the Vatican • Reuters
-
8 of 12
Sinos play in St. Peter’s Square to announce the choice of the new Pope • Reproduction/Reuters
-
9 of 12
Faithful celebrate the election of the new Pope in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican • Reuters
-
-
10 of 12
Nuns react to white smoke indicating the election of a new Pope in the Vatican on May 8, 2025 • Reuters/Eloisa Lopez TPX
-
11 of 12
Priests hug as they react to white smoke that comes out of the sistine chapel chimney, indicating that a new pope was elected at the Vatican on May 8, 2025. Reuters/Claudia Greco
-
12 of 12
Pope Leo XIV waves to the Vatican crowd • Antonio Masiello/Getty Images
-
