The Vatican announced in a statement on Friday, March 9 that Pope Leo XIV’s formal inauguration Mass, officially marking the commencement of his papacy, will be held in the iconic St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18. This event will be the first major public ceremony in the aftermath of the election of the new pontiff.
In addition to the inauguration Mass, the Vatican also confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will hold his first general audience on Wednesday, May 21. This audience will provide an opportunity for the faithful and the wider public to hear directly from the newly elected leader of the Catholic Church. The scheduling of both the inauguration Mass and the first general audience signifies the beginning of Pope Leo XIV’s public ministry.
