First Mass as Pontiff on May 18
Vatican City, May 9 (EFE).-
The newly elected Pope Leo XIV will hold his first mass as the pontiff on May 18, followed by his first general audience three days later, the Vatican announced on Friday.
The inaugural Mass, in which he will receive the Fisherman’s Ring and the pallium, symbols of his papal power, will take place at 10 am in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican and be attended by delegations and heads of state from all over the world.
On May 21, Leo XIV will preside over his first general audience, while on May 24 he will meet with the members of the Roman Curia, who are top Vatican officials, and employees of Vatican City.
In his agenda, revealed on Friday, one day after his election, the first official commitment will be a meeting with the cardinals on Saturday and the next day, he will preside over the Regina Coeli prayer, which replaces the Angelus during the Easter period.
On May 12, Leo XIV will hold an audience with the journalists who covered the conclave and, on May 16, with the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See.
He will also have to take possession of the four major papal basilicas in Rome, in addition to St. Peter’s in the Vatican.
On May 20, he will visit St. Paul’s Outside the Walls and, on May 25, to St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major.
The remains of his predecessor, Francis, were laid to rest at the Basilica of St Mary Major.
Pope Leo XIV held a Mass in the Sistine Chapel on Friday and later announced a temporary confirmation of the Roman Curia and other authorities and said he would take time to “reflect, pray and debate” possible changes. EFE gsm/pd
