Pope Leo XIV.: Payer for change - inauguration on May 18!

Pope Leo XIV.: Payer for change - inauguration on May 18!

Petersplatz, 00120 Rom, Italien - Today, on May 13, 2025, the new Pope, Leo XIV. Leo XIV, with a bourgeois name Robert Francis Prevost, is 69 years old and the first American Pope in the history of the church. Born in 1955 in Chicago, Illinois, Prevost grew up in a strictly Catholic family and joined the Augustinian order in 1977. In 1982 he was ordained a priest in Rome and gained experience as a missionary in Peru and as an instructor in the USA. In 2001 he became general priority of the Augustinian order and in 2014 received the order from Pope Francis to go to Peru, where he was finally appointed bishop and also acquired Peruvian citizenship. During his first speech, he made it clear that the name "Leo" alludes to Leo XIII. is who campaigned for social justice; Leo XIV planned to focus on current challenges. This reports LVZ .

The solemn inauguration of the new Pope takes place on May 18, 2025 at 10 a.m. on St. Peter's Square in Rome. Leo XIV will visit the Petrusgrab before the ceremony and accept its insignia, the pallium and the fishing ring. The ceremony includes a procession to the altar, a solemn mass and ends with the traditional "te deum". Around 130 delegations, including over 30 heads of state, are expected to take office, including prominent guests such as the Federal Chancellor of Austria Christian Stocker, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the President of Ukraine, Wolodymyr Selenskyj. The participation of US President Donald Trump is unclear, but Vice President J.D. Vance be present.

First official dates

Leo XIV. On May 8, a dinner with the cardinals of the conclave took place, followed by his first mass in the Sistine chapel on May 9th. On the Sunday after the election, he held his first lunch prayer on the Mittelloggia of St. Peter's Basilica. On May 12th he had an audience for journalists, in which he spoke on current topics. His first Sunday mass addressed war, artificial intelligence and global crises. In addition, a possible first business trip to Turkey is already expected in May.

expectations and challenges

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the chairman of the US Bishops' Conference, commented on the future challenges that Leo XIV expected. Especially in migration and international issues, there could be conflicts with US President Donald Trump. Broglio describes the new Pope as a man of the gospel and the church, who speaks as a pastor and will address essential topics. He assumes that US Catholics will listen to the new Pope with interest, even if many voted for Trump. Despite his support for some Trump's measures, Broglio also expresses concerns and describes Leo XIV as friendly, intelligent and relaxed, which can neither be classified as conservative nor liberal. He will continue the path of Pope Francis, but with his own vision.

Overall, the Roman Catholic Church faces exciting challenges with the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, and many eyes will be aimed at the planned steps of the new Pope. FAZ It has to get to the social, political and technological Challenges of today and remain able to act.