Pope Leo XIV officially enthroned on Holy See

On Sunday, May 18, the solemn enthronement of the new Pope of Rome, Leo XIV, took place in the Vatican. The ceremony marked his official ascension to the Holy See.

This is reported by Reuters.

The pontiff first appeared before the faithful in the traditional popemobile, driving through St. Peter's Square, where he was greeted by tens of thousands of pilgrims and leaders of states. People chanted "Viva il Papa!" and "Papa Leone!".

The crowd filled not only the square itself, but also the surrounding streets of Rome. Among the guests of honor at the ceremony was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his first lady.

During the inaugural mass, the traditional part of the enthronement took place - the cardinal-deacon placed a pallium woven from lambs' wool on the Pope's shoulders. This white ribbon symbolizes the Pope's pastoral responsibility before the entire Church. Leo XIV also received the fisherman's ring, the main symbol of papal power, which is usually destroyed after the end of the pontificate.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on May 8, cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th Pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first Pope from the United States.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a possible meeting with the new Pope Leo XIV on Sunday, May 18.

After being elected Pope, Leo XIV offered to mediate between the warring parties in the world during a reception at the Vatican of representatives of 23 Christian Churches of the East.

Recall that Pope Leo XIV, elected on May 8, criticized US Vice President J.D. Vance's statements about the "order of love", calling them inconsistent with the words of Jesus.