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Solemn ceremony of Pope Leo XIV/ Details from the mass celebrated on Sunday at the Vatican

2025-05-17 17:59:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Solemn ceremony of Pope Leo XIV/ Details from the mass celebrated on Sunday at

The Mass for the inauguration of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV will be celebrated on Sunday, May 18, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. The liturgy will mark the official beginning of his ministry as the successor of Peter and bishop of Rome. On May 25, he will take canonical possession of the Basilica of St. John in Lateran, the cathedral of the bishop of Rome.

According to the program, the solemn ceremony on May 18 will begin inside St. Peter's Basilica, in front of the Altar of Confession. Pope Leo XIV will go to the tomb of the Apostle Peter to pray there in silence, a few moments before the solemn Mass for the beginning of his Petrine ministry as Bishop of Rome.

Solemn ceremony of Pope Leo XIV/ Details from the mass celebrated on Sunday at

The Patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with Rome will also participate in this moment of remembrance and prayer. Afterwards, the liturgical procession will begin to St. Peter's Square, led by the Pope from inside the basilica to the outer altar where Mass will be celebrated. During the procession, the "Laudes Regiae" ("Royal Praise"), a solemn litany of saints appropriate for the occasion, will be sung.

This ancient liturgical song accompanied Roman imperial victories in the distant past. It was revived by Emperor Charlemagne on Christmas Day in 800 during his coronation as emperor and has since become a solemn hymn for monarchical rites. Also sung for the kings of France and the sovereigns of England until the Reformation, “Laudes Regiae” evokes a central theological truth: All earthly power comes from God and must be exercised with humility and responsibility.

One of the central moments of the rite is the presentation of the signs of the ministry of Peter, the two elements that mark the beginning of the pontificate. Previously, the diadem was placed on the pope, but now the important elements are the papal pallium and the fisherman's ring. Both elements have profound theological and pastoral significance.

Solemn ceremony of Pope Leo XIV/ Details from the mass celebrated on Sunday at

The Mass for the inauguration of the pontificate will have a clearly universal character because it emphasizes the Holy Father as the shepherd of the universal Church. Therefore, in addition to thousands of faithful, heads of state and diplomatic representatives from various countries will also participate. The Holy See has diplomatic relations with more than 180 countries./CNA