Pope Leo XIV enthroned: A beacon of hope for peace!

Pope Leo XIV enthroned: A beacon of hope for peace!

On Sunday morning, Pope Leo XIV was ceremoniously enthroned at 6 a.m. in St. Peter's Square in Rome. Over 200,000 people witnessed the ceremony, during which Leo XIV, the first pope from the USA, drove through the cheering crowd in an open popemobile for half an hour. The inauguration was a significant event because Leo XIV took more time for those present than his predecessor, Pope Francis, who only needed a few minutes for his inauguration in 2013.

In his highly anticipated speech, the 69-year-old Pope emphasized the themes of unity and peace. He expressed his desire for peace in conflict areas such as Gaza, Ukraine and Myanmar. Of particular note is that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was present and listened to the Pope's words on “just peace.” After the ceremony, Zelensky received a personal audience with the new pope.

First Sunday blessing and statements

Of course, Leo XIV also followed the tradition of giving the Sunday blessing, which was also his first as Pope. This address took place from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica in the presence of approximately 100,000 people, underscoring the importance of the moment. The pope sang the Regina Caeli prayer, returning to traditional liturgies that were often replaced by recitation by his predecessors.

Pope Leo XIV expressed concern about ongoing conflicts around the world. He metaphorically called the situation in Ukraine a "third world war in pieces" and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and humanitarian aid for the affected civilian population. Those present, including 200 delegations with cardinals, queens and presidents, also followed his words with great interest.

Political and social significance

The new pope appears to be potentially “the right pope at the right time” amid pressing global challenges. Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger expressed this assessment during a brief meeting with Leo XIV. Chancellor Christian Stocker thanked the Pope and invited him to visit Austria. US Vice President JD Vance is expected at the Vatican on Monday, highlighting the geopolitical dimension of Leo's term.

The election of Leo XIV as the 267th Pope is not only significant from a religious perspective. It also stands in the historical context of the papacy, which has been characterized by a variety of challenges since late antiquity. The popes claim to be the successors of the apostle Simon Peter, and the evolution of the papacy from a local to a universal institution was accompanied by various political and social upheavals, as historiography shows.

The continued relevance of the papacy is demonstrated once again in the current situation, as Leo