Pope Leo warns against exploiting nature, marginalising poor at inaugural mass
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VATICAN CITY - Pope Leo XIV set the tone for his papacy on May 18 with a call to stop exploiting nature and marginalising the poor, before an audience that included US Vice-President J.D. Vance and tens of thousands of pilgrims.
Ten days after Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost became the first US head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics
The 69-year-old began the day by making his debut tour in a popemobile, standing in the custom-made white vehicle and smiling, waving and blessing the cheering crowds at the Vatican.
In front of dignitaries including Mr Vance and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, he then gave a homily calling for the Church to be a transformational force in a world of division and hatred.
“In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest,” Pope Leo said.
He vowed to face up to “the questions, concerns and challenges of today’s world” and, in a nod to conservatives, he promised to preserve “the rich heritage of the Christian faith”, repeatedly calling for unity.
Crowds chanted “Viva il Papa” (Long Live the Pope) and “Papa Leone”, his name in Italian, as he waved from the open-topped popemobile ahead of his inaugural mass, which was attended by dozens of world leaders.
The new pontiff, who spent many years as a missionary in Peru, also warned against “closing ourselves off in our small groups”.
“We are called to offer God’s love to everyone, in order to achieve that unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people,” he said.
In a brief appeal at the end of the mass, the pope addressed several global conflicts. He said Ukraine was being “martyred”, a phrase often used by Pope Francis, and called for a “just and lasting peace” there.
He also mentioned the humanitarian situation in Gaza, saying that people in the Palestinian enclave were being “reduced to starvation”.
Pope Leo, who was made a cardinal only in 2023 and is unknown to many Catholics, has repeatedly emphasised the importance of peace and social justice in his first few days as pope.
Ms Inacia Lisboa, 71, a pilgrim from Cape Verde who lives in Rome, told AFP at the Vatican on May 18 that Pope Leo had already “entered my heart”.
She said she wanted him to “pray for us all, for peace in the world – we need it so much”.
First US pope
Pope Leo made history as the first pontiff from the United States, with his home country represented on May 18 by Mr Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also a Catholic.
Before becoming pope, Pope Leo reposted on his personal X account criticism of President Donald Trump’s administration over its approach to migration and also pilloried Mr Vance, but the account is no longer accessible.
Mr Vance was the last world leader to meet Pope Francis, the day before the Argentinian died on April 21
Pope Leo’s elevation has sparked huge enthusiasm in the US, but also some consternation elsewhere that a country with an already outsize political and military role in the world now boasts one its foremost spiritual leaders.
Ms Sophia Tripp, a 20-year-old student visiting from Pope Leo’s home town of Chicago, said: “There is going to be extra weight because he is American. I think there’s going to be a lot of extra eyes, and maybe criticisms.”
But she said she hoped he would “bring people together”, adding: “We are all human, and we should just all be loving to one another.”
Other guests on May 18 included German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and a host of European royals also attended.
Singapore was represented by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, who is also Second Minister for Law.
Italian authorities deployed thousands of security officers for the event, alongside snipers on rooftops and anti-drone operations.
‘Fear and trembling’
Pope Leo was elected the 267th pope on May 8 after a conclave vote of cardinals
Succeeding the charismatic Pope Francis, he takes over a Church still battling the fallout of the clerical child abuse scandal, and trying to adapt to the modern world.
Since becoming pope, Pope Leo has already signalled some key priorities for his papacy, including a warning about the dangers posed by artificial intelligence and the importance of bringing peace to the world and to the Church itself.
Pope Francis’ papacy left a divided Church, with conservatives accusing him of sowing confusion, particularly with his extemporaneous remarks on issues of sexual morality, such as same-sex unions.
Saying he was taking up his mission “with fear and trembling”, Pope Leo used the words “unity” or “united” seven times on May 18 and the word “harmony” four times.
“It is never a question of capturing others by force, by religious propaganda or by means of power. Instead, it is always and only a question of loving, as Jesus did,” he said, in apparent reference to a war of words between Catholics who define themselves as conservative or progressive.
Conservatives also accused Pope Francis of ruling in a heavy-handed way and lamented that he belittled their concerns and did not consult widely before making decisions.
Referring to St Peter, the first-century Christian apostle from whom popes derive their authority, Pope Leo said: “Peter must shepherd the flock without ever yielding to the temptation to be an autocrat, lording it over those entrusted to him. On the contrary, he is called to serve the faith of his brothers and sisters, and to walk alongside them.”
Ahead of the mass, the Pope visited the tomb of St Peter, located under the altar of the basilica that bears his name.
Pope Leo then received the pontifical emblems – the pallium, a strip of cloth worn over the chasuble, his robe and the fisherman’s ring, which is forged anew for each pope and which he will wear on his finger until he dies, when it will be destroyed. AFP, REUTERS
