Anthony Albanese takes Akubra off to meet Pope Leo IXV ahead of Zelensky talks

Pope Leo XIV is due to meet with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr hours after his inauguration, which was watched by millions around the world. SEE VIDEO AND PHOTOS

The Vatican has announced that Pope Leo XIV will meet with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky following the conclusion of the inauguration mass on Sunday.

Many of the world leaders entered St Peter’s Basilica to shake hands and speak briefly with the pontiff following the official proceedings including Mr Zelensky and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with Pope Leo XIV.

Honoured to attend the inaugural Mass and meet His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, who is in the prayers of Australia’s five million Catholics today. pic.twitter.com/HsMuIrMbHw

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 18, 2025

Just last week the Vatican’s spokesman Matteo Bruni said Leo and Mr Zelensky had spoken by phone shortly after he was elected as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

The call came after Leo made a plea for lasting peace in Ukraine when he gave his Regina Caeli address last weekend at the Basilica.

Pope Leo XIV waves after delivering the Regina Caeli prayer after a Holy Mass for the Beginning of his Pontificate, in St Peter's square in the Vatican. Picture: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

Pope Leo XIV has also called for peace, saying there were “too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, and prejudice” in his inauguration mass in Rome.

Mr Albanese, wearing an iconic Akubra, attended the Chicago-born pontiff’s first official service on Sunday ahead of having talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joins other world leaders at the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV at St Peter’s Square in Vatican City. Picture: 7 News

Ukraine's President Volodymr Zelensky and first lady Olena Zelenska arrive for Pope Leo XIV's formal inauguration. Picture: AP Photo/Stefano Costantino

Vice President J.D. Vance (centre) shakes hands with Ukraine's President Volodymr Zelensky, as he arrives for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV. Picture: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool

US Vice President J.D. Vance also attended and was seen shaking hands with Mr Zelensky – their first encounter since the disastrous talks they held at the White House in February.

Pope Leo XIV waves to the audience as he arrives. Picture: Getty

“Brothers and sisters, I would like that our first great desire be for a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world,” Leo said in his homily.

Pope Leo XIV waves as he arrives in the Pope mobile ahead of the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV in St Peter's Square. Picture: Getty

“In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest.”

Faithful gather as Pope Leo XIV celebrates a Mass for the formal inauguration of his pontificate, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican. Picture: AP

The 69-year-old pontiff received cheers and applause as he was driven in the popemobile through the crowd of 150,000 worshippers who packed into St Peter’s Square.

The enthusiastic congregation waved and shouted “Viva il Papa” – “Long live the Pope” as they celebrated the Catholic church’s 267th pontiff on a sunny Sunday morning in Rome.

Pope Leo XIV on his popemobile tours St. Peter's Square at the Vatican prior to the inaugural Mass of his pontificate. Picture: AP

John Shanahger, 70, from New Jersey, said it was such a special event to attend and especially because he’s an American pope.

“I’m here because I’ve got an American pope installed behind me,” he said.

“I don’t think he will be any different towards us but it’s always been, ‘oh Americans, no pope’, this is amazing to me”.

Pope Leo XIV leads a Holy mass for the beginning of his pontificate, in St Peter's square in The Vatican. Picture: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

Leo was appointed pope on May 8 following a 24-hour conclave process and he is the successor of the late Pope Francis, 88, who died on Easter Monday. Key moments at the inauguration included Leo receiving the Fisherman’s Ring, a gold signet ring, named in honour of the first pope Saint Peter who was a fisherman.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joins other world leaders at the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV at St Peter’s Square in Vatican City. Picture: Nine News

Mr Albanese arrived in Rome on Friday night (Saturday AEST) and on the weekend he visited Domus Australia, a pilgrim’s guesthouse for Australians in the Italian capital, and he met with church leaders including the Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher, Archbishop of Melbourne Peter Comensoli and Australian ambassador to the Holy See Keith Pitt.

He said on social media that he is “honoured to be attending the Holy Father’s inaugural mass on Sunday”.

Also at the inauguration mass was US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Prince Edward the Duke of Edinburgh, representing King Charles, Israeli President Issac Herzog and

Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco arrive ahead of the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV in St Peter's Square. Picture: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

A priest gives communion to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's wife Jeanette during a Holy Mass for the Beginning of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, in St Peter's square. Picture: AFP

Mr Albanese said he will be inviting the pontiff to visit Australia in 2028 for the International Eucharistic Congress in Sydney which is expected to be attended by tens of thousands of Catholics from around the world.

Pope Leo XIV takes the Inauguration Mass in St Peter's Square on May 18, 2025 in Vatican City. Picture: Getty

“As part of this visit we will be inviting his holiness Pope Leo to visit Australia at that time and give us that honour,” he said.

As the sun shone down on St Peter’s Square hundreds of thousands of worshippers gathered in and around the Basilica to watch the service, many standing in silence to listen to the historic mass which was given in Italian.