On May 18, 2025, Pope Leo XIV will celebrate the Mass inaugurating his pontificate, which began with his acceptance of the papal office following his election on May 8.
This ceremony, rich in symbols and significant gestures, is expected to include some notable changes from the 2013 inauguration, revealing a different overall approach.
Notably, it will be “representatives of the People of God,” rather than just cardinals, who will pledge obedience to the new Pope after the presentation of the pallium and the Fisherman’s Ring.
Before the Mass: Prayer with the Patriarchs – and a Papal Procession?
The official liturgy for the inauguration does not include a public greeting before the Mass. However, in 2013, Pope Francis chose to ride through St. Peter’s Square in the popemobile to greet the gathered faithful before the ceremony. It is likely that Pope Leon XIV will do something similar, though the Vatican has not yet confirmed this.
The Pope will then proceed into the basilica, which will be empty of the faithful, to descend into the Confession of St. Peter. This sacred space, located beneath the Altar of the Confession, marks the traditional resting place of the Apostle Peter, the first disciple to recognize Jesus as the Christ and the first pope.
Here, the new pope will spend a moment in prayer, joined by the patriarchs and major archbishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches, as a sign of unity with these ancient communities in communion with Rome.
After this prayer, Leon XIV will walk up the central nave of the basilica, following bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and patriarchs, before emerging onto the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica, where the Mass will be celebrated. The crowd is expected to spill out beyond the square itself, filling the Via della Conciliazione as the world watches this historic moment.
Language and unity in the liturgy
The canon of the Mass will be prayed in Latin, the universal language of the Church. However, reflecting the pope’s Peruvian and American heritage, the first reading will be proclaimed in Spanish and the second in English. The psalm will be sung in Italian, and the Gospel will be read twice – first in Latin, then in Greek – as a sign of unity between the Latin and Eastern traditions.
The presentation of the Pallium
After the proclamation of the Gospel – not at the beginning of the Mass, as was once the custom – a cardinal from the order of deacons will approach the pope and offer a prayer in Latin, declaring, “Today you succeed Peter in the episcopate of this Church, which he brought to faith together with the Apostle Paul.”
The cardinal will then place the pallium around the pope’s shoulders. This liturgical vestment is a white woolen band, marked with black crosses, representing the wounds of Christ. It is worn over the chasuble and symbolizes the pope’s role as a shepherd, carrying the lost sheep on his shoulders (Luke 15:5). It is a sign of unity with the metropolitan archbishops of the Church, who receive their own pallia from the pope each June 29, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul.
Since the inauguration of Pope John Paul I, the pallium has replaced the papal tiara as the primary symbol of the pope’s authority, showing a more pastoral approach to the papacy. This is why the term “Mass of Inauguration” is now preferred over “Mass of Coronation.”
This Mass is a significant moment in the start of a pontificate, though it is not an ordination – Leo XIV has been a bishop since 2014 and fully pope since he formally accepted his election as the 266th successor of St. Peter on May 8.
The Fisherman’s Ring
Immediately after the pallium, a cardinal from the order of priests will say another prayer for the new pope, asking God to support him in his mission.
A cardinal from the order of bishops will then step forward and present the Fisherman’s Ring, an official insignia that symbolizes the pope’s link to Saint Peter and the call to be a “fisher of men” (Matthew 4:19). Traditionally made of silver, this ring once served to seal official papal documents with wax or lead, though it now functions as a powerful symbol of the pope’s pastoral mission.
The Office of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff published images of the ring on Saturday. It includes Leo's coat of arms on the inside.
Pledging obedience: A new approach
For the first time, “representatives of the People of God” will pledge obedience to the new pope, instead of just a small group of senior cardinals, reflecting a more synodal vision of the Church. In previous inaugurations, this gesture was reserved for six cardinals – two from each order (bishops, priests, and deacons) – who professed their loyalty on behalf of the entire College of Cardinals.
Concluding rites and personal greetings
After the Mass, Pope Leon XIV may return to the basilica to greet heads of state and dignitaries, a custom that highlights the pope’s role as a global spiritual leader. In 2013, this sequence lasted over an hour, with Pope Francis standing to personally greet each visiting leader, a significant diplomatic gesture that underscores the pope’s unique place on the world stage.
