The new pope, Leo XIV, called for the Catholic Church to counter a lack of faith in his first mass in the Vatican.
Speaking the day after his elected official 267th Pope and the first American chief of the Church, he warned that people turned away from faith and rather “technology, money, success, power or pleasure”.
Leo said he was elected as a “faithful administrator” of a church that would serve as a “lighthouse that illuminates the dark nights of this world”.
The ascent of Robert Francis Prevost was celebrated by the 1.4 billion Catholics of the world, with happy explosions in his American homeland and in Peru, where he served for 20 years.
Friday, in his sermon, the new pope said that there were many contexts where the Christian faith was considered to be “absurd” – with power, wealth and dominant technology – but it was precisely where missionary awareness was necessary.
“A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the negligence of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the family crisis and so many other injuries that afflict our society,” he said in the address pronounced in Italian.
Pope Leo, 69, wore a white papal dress cut in gold while he was addressed to the cardinals seated in the Sistine chapel, an event broadcast live by the Vatican administration.
In an unicenized introduction before homily, Leo also called the unity of the church of his cardinals, telling them in English accesses American: “I know that I can count on each of you to walk with me”.
After weeks of anticipation, the previously unknown foreseement was presented as the new pope in the world Thursday evening on St Peter’s square.
Tens of thousands of followers in the place broke out in cheers when white smoke withdrew from the Vatican fireplace on the second day of the conclave vote.
Shortly after, the Prévost born in Chicago appeared on the Balcony of the Saint-Pierre Basilica. In his first words to the crowd, he described a vision of a “missionary” church which “built bridges, which contains dialogues, which are always open”.
He echoes his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, calling for peace.
“Help us, and each other, to build bridges by dialogue, by meeting, to meet as a single people, still in peace,” he said.
World leaders rushed to congratulate Prevost for his elections, committing to work with him on global problems in the middle of uncertain times. President Donald Trump described this as “great honor” to have the first American pope.
Prévost, who had previously been the bishop of Chiclayo in Peru, was only made the archbishop and then cardinal in 2023. He was elected by his cardinal colleagues in what would be four voting cycles in the secret conclave which took place two weeks after the death of François.
He is considered to be aligned with the progressive proppe pope, who was considered a champion of human rights and the poor and celebrated for his charismatic style which sought to make the Catholic church more oriented outside.
The Vatican observers have noted that Francis seemed to have brought prevost to Rome in recent years, perhaps to put it in place as a potential successor.
The Augustinian missionary worked for decades with the poor and marginalized in Peru, where he obtained nationality in 2015.
In his previous role as Cardinal PREVOST, he had also expressed or amplified criticism of the American administration under President Trump, including his anti-immigration policies.
On his account X in February, he had criticized the argument of vice-president JD Vance according to which Christians should love their family, their neighbors, their community and their fellow citizens in this order, saying: “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus does not ask us to classify our love for others”.
As a pope, he faces an important task to direct the Church at a time of major world conflicts. Observers have expressed hope that he could offer a counterpoint to more divided voices on the world scene.
His upcoming remarks, including the Prayer of Regina Coeli from Midi on Sunday in the Basilica of Saint-Pierre and a press conference on Monday with journalists, will be monitored closely for the signs of the management which he intends to direct the church and the type of pope he will be.
