Pope Leo XIV takes office with a call for unity and love

Pope Leo XIV takes office with a call for unity and love

On May 18, 2025, Pope Leo XIV was officially inaugurated in Rome. This solemn ceremony brought together hundreds of thousands of people, including high-ranking international politicians such as Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The new pope broke protocol at his inauguration by hugging his older brother Louis Prevost, who traveled from Florida. Louis Prevost was part of the official US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

In his homily, Leo XIV recalled and expressed his sadness at the death of his predecessor, Pope Francis. He felt like “sheep without a shepherd” and emphasized the responsibility of preserving the heritage of the Christian faith in today's times. The new pope called for a “united church in a reconciled world” and thanked Francis for his service. In his speech, he highlighted the challenges facing the Church and called on the faithful to work to end the discord and wounds caused by hatred, violence and prejudice.

Call for unity and love

In his address, Leo He explained that the true authority of the Church is the love of Christ, not coercion or power. The new pope made it clear that the pope's mission encompasses the love and unity that Jesus entrusted to Peter.

He encouraged believers to bring the hope of the Gospel to the world and to recognize the importance of cooperation with other religious communities and people of good will. Leo XIV called for bringing God's love to the world and building a new world of peace. In this context, he recalled the proposals of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who called on religions to combat a “culture of individualism, exclusion, indifference and violence” and to promote fraternity and peace.

A new era of interreligious cooperation

Pope Francis welcomed participants to the interreligious “All Religions Conference” in the Vatican in November 2024. This historic event was organized to mark the 100th anniversary of the conference initiated by Indian cleric Sree Narayana Guru. In his address, Francis emphasized the need to follow the teachings of religions and cultivate fraternal relationships.

Leo XIV also concluded with an appeal to the community to approach God as brothers and sisters and to love one another. He made it clear that questions of faith and hope are more important than ever in today's world and that unity in diversity plays a central role. He carries on the legacy of Pope Francis in his efforts to spread the Christian message and make the world a better place.

Overall, the inauguration of Leo XIV shows not only the changes in the Catholic Church, but also the urgency for peace and unity in an increasingly divided world. The challenges he faces are shaped by his commitment and desire to live the gospel in a time of uncertainty.