Faithful gather for Pope Leo XIV’s first mass as he laments society’s ‘wounds’

Pope Leo XIV has delivered a multilingual mass inside the ­Sistine Chapel, saying ‘a lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by ... wounds that afflict our society’.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV says mass with the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel on Friday. He spoke of the difficulty of preaching the gospel when believers were at best tolerated and pitied. Picture: Vatican Media / AFP

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Pope Leo XIV has delivered a multilingual mass inside the ­Sistine Chapel before the College of Cardinals, speaking of the difficulty of preaching the gospel and ­bearing witness to its truth, saying that believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied.

In his first public mass ahead of an official inauguration expected next week, Leo on Friday night (AEST) delivered the Franciscan-like homily facing the cardinals – a deviation from facing the traditional altar in the Sistine Chapel, which would have turned his back to the congregation.

“A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society,” Leo said.

St Peter’s Square and nearby streets of the Vatican City were filled with joyful Italians and American tourists as the mass took place following the elevation of US cardinal Robert Prevost of the Augustinian order to the papacy on Thursday Rome time.

Leo had hinted at a missionary-style leadership when he greeted the faithful shortly after his election on Thursday and, ­during this mass, known as Missa Pro Ecclesia, he said there were many settings in which the Christian faith was “considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent”.

He added that other ­securities were preferred “like technology, money, success, power, or pleasure”.

Pope Leo XIV during the mass with cardinals in the Sistine Chapel on Friday. Picture: Vatican Media / AFP

Signifying the pontiff’s multinational approach, the service was conducted in multiple languages.

Leo initially spoke to the congregation in English, saying: “I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as believers to announce the good news, to announce the gospel”.

He then invited the congregation to “recognise the marvels that the Lord has done” before switching to Italian as he quoted from Peter, the first Catholic saint, in the Book of Matthew.

The first reading from the Book of Revelation, chapter 21, verses nine to 14 was delivered by a nun in English. The passage ­describes the vision of the holy city of Jerusalem: a city shining with God-like radiance, the brilliance “a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal,” and with walls bearing the names of the apostles.

Another reading was from the First Epistle of St Peter and was conducted in Spanish, one of the languages in which Leo is fluent, having spent decades in Peru as a missionary and then as a cardinal.

Leo is expected to hold a press conference on Monday to outline his vision for the church’s direction in greater detail.

In addition to the Friday mass, Vatican officials said, he might celebrate mass on Sunday, although this had not been confirmed.

Pilgrims and the inquisitive on Friday gathered underneath big screens along the wide avenue Via della Conciliazione leading to St Peter’s Square to watch proceedings. A general theme among the faithful was relief that Leo, while being the first Pope from the US, had vast international experience and was not closely allied to the US President Donald Trump.

Pope Leo XIV waves to faithful and pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square shortly after his election on Thursday. Picture: Vatican Media via AP

American couple Don and Cindy Williams were glued to the screen, and were planning on extending their holidays to incorporate the Pope’s big outdoor event on Sunday.

“You can tell from his words he is focused upon peace and being accepting of people and the importance of us serving God …” Mr Wil­liams said.

“He is the right Pope for the world right now. Americans are longing for someone who is interested in mankind and is not just interested in the political game – the world has too much of that.”

Paulo Rodriguez had interrupted his three-day trip to Rome to see Leo “because he is one of us, he speaks Spanish”.

“Today I have tickets for the Colosseum, but this is much, much better (being in the Vatican City),” Mr Rodriguez said.

Sister Josephine, a Filipina nun serving in Rome, said God had chosen the right Pope to serve, even though she had been hoping for the Filipino candidate, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.

Souvenir sellers said sales of Francis memorabilia had been brisk and they were anxiously awaiting rushed orders of Leo mugs and calendars.