Nagaland Deputy CM Y. Patton Represents India at Pope Leo XIV’s Inauguration

Vatican City – History was made on Sunday as Pope Leo XIV, the first American to hold the highest office in the Catholic Church, officially began his pontificate. Addressing an estimated 200,000 pilgrims, heads of state, and religious leaders in St. Peter’s Square, the 69-year-old Augustinian missionary delivered a powerful message of unity, vowing to make the Church a global symbol of peace.

The inauguration began with Leo’s first Popemobile tour, a ritual that has become synonymous with the papacy’s global reach. Smiling and waving, he paused to bless babies in the crowd, connecting directly with the faithful. During the solemn Mass, a visibly moved Leo appeared to choke up as the two potent symbols of his new office – the lambswool stole (pallium) and the fisherman’s ring – were placed upon him, seemingly acknowledging the immense responsibility of leading the 1.4-billion-strong Catholic Church.

In his inaugural homily, Pope Leo XIV articulated his vision for a papacy centered on love and unity, aiming for the Church to be a force for peace in a fractured world. “I would like that our first great desire be for a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world,” he stated. He lamented the persistent discord, hatred, violence, prejudice, and economic exploitation that plague contemporary society.

His call for unity holds particular significance given the deep polarization within the Catholic Church, especially in the United States. Following the impactful 12-year pontificate of Pope Francis, which often alienated conservative and traditionalist factions with its emphasis on the poor and critique of capitalism, Leo’s election on May 8th – a remarkably swift 24-hour conclave – appears to have resonated with conservative Catholics who appreciate his more disciplined and traditional Augustinian background, focusing on core Catholic doctrine.

Pope Leo further reinforced this message by wearing the formal red cape (mozzetta) to greet official government delegations after the Mass, a tradition largely eschewed by his predecessor. This return to traditional garb was met with cheers from conservatives and traditionalists.

 Despite these formalities, Leo showed a personal touch, sharing a warm embrace with his older brother, Louis Prevost, a self-described “MAGA-type,” in the basilica.

Quoting themes reminiscent of Pope Francis’s pontificate, Leo urged, “Let us build a church founded on God’s love, a sign of unity, a missionary church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word, allows itself to be made restless by history, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity.”

Security was paramount for the event, which mirrored the large turnout for Pope Francis’s funeral. Approximately 200,000 people filled St. Peter’s Square and surrounding areas.

Strict diplomatic protocol dictated the seating arrangements. Due to Pope Leo’s dual American and Peruvian citizenship, both U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte secured front-row seats. Vance, a Catholic convert who had previously disagreed with Pope Francis on migrant issues, led the U.S. delegation, which also included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Other notable attendees included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The dress code also adhered to strict protocol, with Catholic queens and princesses, such as Letizia of Spain and Charlene of Monaco, exercising their special privilege to wear white. Delegations from various Christian denominations, a 13-member Jewish delegation, and representatives from Buddhist, Muslim, Zoroastrian, Hindu, Sikh, and Jain faiths were also present.

At the conclusion of the Mass, Pope Leo expressed hope for negotiations to bring a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine and offered prayers for the people of Gaza, particularly children, families, and the elderly facing starvation. Notably, unlike Pope Francis, he did not specifically mention the hostages taken by Hamas.

The election of an American pope has ignited significant enthusiasm among Catholics in the United States. Susan Hanssen, a Chicago-born professor, expressed her belief that Pope Leo’s message of unity would resonate broadly. “I think he will inspire,” she commented, particularly appreciating his emphasis on “unity within the doctrine of the faith, and then in love.”

U.S. seminarian Ethan Menning, 21, from Omaha, Nebraska, proudly waved an American flag, stating, “Rome always felt like home for a Catholic, but now coming here and seeing one of our own on the throne of Peter … it almost makes Jesus himself more accessible.”

The two pivotal symbols of the papacy bestowed upon Leo were the pallium stole, symbolizing the pastor carrying his flock, and the fisherman’s ring, which serves as his official seal, harkening back to Jesus’ call to Peter.

Another symbolically significant moment was the rite of obedience, where representatives of cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons, nuns, married couples, and young people vowed obedience to the new pontiff, a modern evolution from the historical practice of all cardinals individually pledging allegiance.

For Chicago-area residents Gregory and Susan Hudak, who had booked their Rome trip with only a faint hope of seeing the Pope, witnessing the Popemobile with the Chicago-born Leo was an unexpected “treasure,” even surpassing the excitement of watching Michael Jordan play.