Pope Leo XIV during his maiden mass delivered a powerful message of healing, unity, and spiritual renewal, calling on the global Catholic Church to become a “beacon of hope” amid widespread division and crisis.

Presiding over the Holy Mass on May 9, 2025, inside the Sistine Chapel, beneath the timeless frescoes of Michelangelo, the 69-year-old pontiff addressed a solemn congregation of 133 cardinals and selected clergy, marking the official spiritual beginning of his papacy.

The Chicago-born leader, elected just a day earlier, used his homily to reflect on the heavy burdens the Church carries and the urgent need for truth, compassion, and reconciliation.

“We gather today under the gaze of these sacred walls, where the Spirit has guided us to a new chapter. As your servant, I come before you with humility and a heart full of gratitude,” Pope Leo XIV said.

“Let us heal wounds with truth and love, and lead not with judgment, but with compassion and accountability,” he added.

Pope Leo XIV acknowledged the painful legacy of clergy abuse scandals and the broader polarization affecting societies and the Church alike. He pledged to confront these realities openly, asking the Church to walk with the wounded and remain a home for all.

He honored his predecessor, Pope Francis for his belief in the Church viewing it not as a fortress, but a refuge; for the broken, the doubting, the searching.

After imparting his first apostolic blessing, Pope Leo XIV took time to greet each cardinal individually, an act seen as a personal and pastoral gesture reinforcing his commitment to inclusive and collegial leadership.

The Vatican announced he will address pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on May 10 and deliver his first Angelus on May 11, setting an active and open tone for his pontificate.

As Pope Leo XIV begins his journey as the 267th successor of Peter, his message is clear: this papacy will be defined not by power, but by service, sincerity, and spiritual renewal.