The Catholic Church has a new leader and congratulations are pouring in as Pope Leo XIV prepares to celebrate his first Mass as pontiff.
The service took place the day after his historic election as the first North American pope in the church's 2,000-year history.
Cardinal Robert Prevost walked out onto the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on Thursday after the conclave and the appearance of white smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel signaled the election of a new pontiff.
His election overcame the traditional ban on electing a pope from the United States.
Leo, a 69-year-old Chicago-born Augustinian missionary who has spent his career serving in Peru and taken the powerful post of Vatican bishop, wore the traditional red cape that Pope Francis abandoned after his election in 2013, signaling a return to some degree of rule-following after Francis's unorthodox pontificate.
Leo’s first words to the crowd below – “Peace be with you” – emphasized the message of dialogue and missionary evangelism. He spoke to the crowd in Italian and Spanish, but not English.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Leo XIV would celebrate Mass on Friday morning at 11am local time (10am BST) with cardinals in the Sistine Chapel.
He plans to hold his first blessing on Sunday at noon in the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica.
Leo also plans to meet with media representatives in a Vatican hall on Monday.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
