17 hours ago
7
1 / 5
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
Vatican clerks hole the loggia up of Pope Leo XIV quality astatine the cardinal balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for his archetypal Sunday blessing aft his election, successful St. Peter's Square astatine the Vatican, Sunday, May 11, 2025.(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
VATICAN CITY – Pope Leo XIV celebrated a backstage Mass connected Sunday adjacent the tomb of St. Peter, earlier helium was to present his archetypal Sunday noon blessing from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.
The Vatican said the pope was joined by the caput of his Augustinian order, the Rev. Alejandro Moral Anton. The Mass occurred successful the grottoes underneath St. Peter’s, the accepted burial spot of St. Peter, the apostle who is considered the beryllium the archetypal pope.
The area, which is usually unfastened to the public, besides contains the tombs of past popes, including Pope Benedict XVI.
With inactive an hr to spell earlier Leo was to look to the public, St. Peter's Square was filing up with pilgrims, well-wishers and the curious, joined by aggregate marching bands that made expansive entrances into the square.
Leo connected Saturday prayed earlier the tomb of Pope Francis, located crossed municipality astatine the St. Mary Major Basilica.
The 69-year-old Chicago-born missionary was elected 267th pope connected Thursday, the archetypal American pope. He appeared to the satellite from the aforesaid loggia, offering a connection of bid and unity.
___
Associated Press religion sum receives enactment done the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with backing from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely liable for this content.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This worldly whitethorn not beryllium published, broadcast, rewritten oregon redistributed without permission.
English (US) ·