Pope Leo XIV returned to the Sistine
Chapel on Friday to preside over his first Mass as pontiff a day
after being elected the leader of the Catholic Church there on
the second day of the conclave.
The 69-year-old celebrated Mass with the Church's cardinals,
both the 133 cardinal electors who chose him as Pope Francis's
successor and those aged over 80 who were not eligible to take
part in the conclave.
The Vatican, meanwhile, said that Leo's inauguration Mass will
be held in Saint Peter's Square on Sunday, May 18
For Friday's Mass Leo chose the Gospel of Matthew, in which
Jesus says. "I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will
build my church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against
it".
He began by thanking the Cardinal electors for their trust in
him.
"My brother Cardinals, as we celebrate this morning, I invite
you to reflect on the marvels the Lord has done, the blessings
that the Lord continues to pour out on all of us through the
Ministry of Peter," he said.
"You have called me to carry that cross, and to carry out that
mission, and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to
walk with me, as we continue as a Church, as a community of
friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the Good News, to
announce the Gospel," he said.
In his homily, Leo XIV lamented the fact that having faith in
God is seen as "absurd" in many situations.
"Even today there are many situations in which the Christian
faith is considered an absurd thing, for weak, unintelligent
people," the American-Peruvian pope said.
"Situations in which other securities, such as technology,
money, success, power, pleasure, are preferred.
"These are environments in which it is not easy to witness and
proclaim the Gospel and where believers are mocked, opposed,
despised, or, at best, put up with and pitied.
"And yet, precisely for this reason, these are places where
mission is urgently needed, because the lack of faith often
brings with it tragedies such as the loss of the meaning of
life, the oblivion of mercy, the violation of the dignity of the
person in its most dramatic forms, the crisis of the family and
many other wounds from which our society suffers and not a
little".
The cardinals applauded at the end of the mass.
The Prefecture of the Papal Household said the American-Peruvian
pontiff will meet cardinals on Saturday and will give his first
Regina Caeli address from the central balcony of St. Peter's on
Sunday.
Leo will meet the international press on Monday, May 12, take
possession of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls
on May 20 and give his first general audience on May 21.
On 24 May he will meet with the Roman Curia and Vatican
employees.
On May 25 he will take possession of the Papal Basilicas of St
John Lateran and St Mary Major.
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