The Vatican said some 200,000 people attended the Mass at St. Peter’s Square, which marked the start of the pontificate of the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Vice President JD Vance was among the dignitaries.

Elder Matthew S. Holland represented The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Mass of Inauguration for Pope Leo XIV on Sunday at the Vatican. Elder Holland, of the Seventy, also participated with other religious leaders in a private audience with the new pope on Monday and presented a congratulatory letter

Jewish leaders got front seats at Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration Mass. An American rabbi there, and other Jewish representatives, saw that and other gestures from Leo as hopeful signs for upswing of Catholic-Jewish relations under the first U.

Launching his papacy with a call for reconciliation and communion, Pope Leo XIV formally began his ministry as the successor of St. Peter by calling for

Scores of VIPs attended, with some of them looking for a fresh start with the new pontiff after frictions with his predecessor.

Pope Leo XIV, history’s first American pope, vowed to work for unity so that the Catholic Church becomes a sign of peace in the world.

It was a deliberate choice for Princess Charlene, Queen Letizia, Queen Mathilde and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa to wear white, and one that reflects their religion. The four royals are all Catholic and among an exclusive group of just seven women in the world who are allowed to wear white around the pope.

"It's very special, for our country and especially for our city,” a parishioner at the Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini says on the day that Pope Leo XIV is installed as leader of the Catholic Church.