A day after being elected pontiff, Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Mass in the Sistine Chapel, telling the Cardinals that they had called him to be blessed with the mission of leading the Church and that he knew he could rely on them in the walk as believers to announce the good news of Christ.

“I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a Church, as a community of friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news, to announce the Gospel,” he said.

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, the United States of America, was elected pope on 8 May 2025 to succeed Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, 21 April 2025. He is the first North American to be elected the leader of the Catholic Church.

The 69-year-old pontiff, who worked as a missionary work in Peru for many years, is also the first pope from the Order of Saint Augustine.

He is seen as a reformer who will continue the work started by his predecessor.