Pope Leo XIV has been captured holding a baby and waving to gargantuan crowds as world leaders gather for his inauguration.
The bells of St. Peters Basilica rang out as Leo waved from the popemobile that slowly went round the square and then up and down the boulevard.
The crowd cheered “Viva il Papa” and waved Peruvian, American and Holy See flags representing Leo’s nationalities.
Flags from other nations were also seen, as well as banners and umbrellas to shield pilgrims from the sun.
US Vice President JD Vance paid his respects at the Argentine pope’s tomb upon arriving in Rome late Saturday before heading to the US delegation honoring Chicago-born Leo.
The pope has publicly criticized Vance before, previously sharing an article condemning the Republican’s comments about a hierarchy of who you love in Christianity on a social media account under his name.
Both the United States and Peru get front-row seats at the historic event due to Leo’s dual citizenship as well as strict diplomatic protocol.
Catholic convert Vance – who tangled with Francis over President Donald Trump’s mass migrant deportation plans – is joined by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rubio had arrived in Rome ahead of time to try to advance tense Russia-Ukraine peace talks.
Images show Vance smiling as he shakes the hand of President Volodymyr Zelensky – despite the two engaging in the brutal three-way Oval Office shouting match earlier this year.
Russia is being represented by the culture minister, Olga Liubimova.
Security was incredibly tight as civil protection crews in neon uniforms guided pilgrims to different areas of the piazza.
Priests were also rushed into St. Peter‘s Basilica to get ready for the historical Mass.
The late Pope Francis had taken his last popemobile ride at the Vatican on Easter Sunday.
His casket was also taken on the back of the vehicle across Rome last month to its final resting place.
Known as Father Bob, Robert Prevost was announced as Pope Leo XIV on May 8 after less than 25 hours of voting in the Sistine Chapel.
After the public tour in the square, Leo entered the basilica to begin the ceremony to inaugurate his ministry in a series of rites.
He prayed first at the tomb of St. Peter under the basilicas main altar before processioning out into the piazza for the Mass.
Images show Leo receiving one of the potent symbols of papacy – the fisherman’s ring.
The pallium, draped across his shoulders, symbolises the pastor carrying his flock as the pope carries the faithful.
The ring, which became Leos official seal, harks back to Jesus call to the apostle Peter to cast his fishing nets.
Prior to the ring, the Pope was presented with a strip of lambswool called pallium, which represents his role as a shepherd.
It was placed on his shoulders using three pins to represent the nails from Christ’s crucifixion.
In his homily, the Pope spoke about the need to stay “united” and warned against “religious propaganda”.
He said in Italian: “Brothers and sisters, I would like that our first great desire be for a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world.
“Because the Church of Rome presides in charity, and its true authority is the charity of Christ, it is never a question of capturing others by force, by religious propaganda, or by means of power.
“Instead, it’s always and only a question of loving, as Jesus did.”
Leo concluded by telling the faithful to be “together as one people” and to “walk towards God and let us love one another”.
Following the crowd shaking hands with their neighbours as a sign of peace to each other, the congregation took bread and wine.
Many from the crowd had queued in front of priests and deacons for their turn.
Who is Pope Leo?
Prevost was born in Chicago in 1955 to immigrant parents of French, Italian and Spanish descent.
After graduating from Villanova University in Pennsylvania with a degree in maths, the future pontiff joined the Order of St Augustine, taking his vows in 1978.
He rose through the ranks of the Church to become appointed apostolic administrator in Peru by Pope Francis in 2014.
The pair were said to be close and Prevost was considered by Vatican insiders to be a potential kingmaker for the current election.
But few considered the new Leo XIV the likely winner of the secret vote.
Pope Francis brought Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 to serve as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church.
And in January he elevated him into the senior ranks of cardinals.
The last pope to take the name Leo was Leo XIII, an Italian who led the church from 1878 to 1903.
