Pope Leo XIV takes over the Episcopal Church: celebrations in Rome!

Pope Leo XIV takes over the Episcopal Church: celebrations in Rome!

On May 25, 2025, Pope Leo XIV will take over his episcopal church in Rome at 5 p.m., a historic moment for the Roman Catholic Church. The solemn service takes place in the important Lateran Basilica, which served as the headquarters of the popes until the 14th century. Leo This comes just a short time after his official inauguration on May 18, 2025, which took place in St. Peter's Square in front of around 200,000 people daily news reported.

At his induction, Leo XIV received the gold fisherman's ring from Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, a symbol of his role as a "fisher of men" in the Christian faith. In his first address he encouraged the faithful to live as “brothers and servants of faith and joy.” What was particularly notable was that after his speech, Leo

Introduction and expectations

The new pope said he was chosen without merit and sees the church as leaven for unity and community. Delegations from around the world, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, were also present. Merz confirmed that he spoke to various heads of state about current issues, including interreligious dialogue issues.

On the evening of May 25th, Leo XIV will visit the tomb of his predecessor Francis in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to pray. Francis died on April 21st in the Vatican.

The role of the papacy

The history of the papacy, which extends from late antiquity to the present, sees popes succeeding the apostle Simon Peter. This tradition has developed over centuries, with the popes gaining increasing political and cultural power. In the Middle Ages, especially during the church reform movements, the role of the papacy was strengthened. The move away from the importance of papal infallibility was solidified at the First Vatican Council in 1870. Wikipedia documents this development and the resulting conflicts with secular rulers.

The office of Leo XIV not only marks a new phase in the history of the Church, but also represents the challenges that the modern world poses to the faith and the institution of the papacy.