The sun had barely risen over Vatican City on Friday, May 9, 2025, when excitement was already palpable in the cobblestone streets surrounding St. Peter's Square. The faithful and tourists crowded to catch a glimpse of the balcony from which Leon XIV had presented himself to the world the day before. This day marks the true beginning of the pontificate of the 267th successor to Saint Peter, the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church.

Morning Mass in the Sistine Chapel

At precisely 11:10 AM (9:10 AM GMT), Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leon XIV, entered the Sistine Chapel to celebrate his first pontifical Mass. Under the famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo, the 133 cardinal electors who had chosen him the day before gathered for this intimate yet symbolically charged ceremony.

Dressed in traditional pontifical vestments, the new pope appeared moved but determined. This Mass, which was held behind closed doors, was nevertheless broadcast live by Vatican media, allowing the faithful around the world to virtually attend.

In his homily, the Holy Father outlined the first guidelines of what his pontificate might be. In a calm but firm voice, he lamented "the retreat of faith in favor of other certainties such as technology, money, success, power, pleasure" – words reminiscent of certain aspects of his predecessor Pope Francis's teaching, while establishing his own voice.

"The mission is urgent," he declared to the attentive cardinals. "Faced with the loss of the meaning of life, the forgetting of mercy, the violation of human dignity, the Church must be the beacon that illuminates the nights of the world."

This speech, which lasted about 20 minutes, reflected the Augustinian concerns that have marked Prevost's ecclesiastical career, combining deep spirituality with a call to concrete action.

First Private Audiences

After Mass, Pope Leon XIV withdrew to the papal apartments for a series of private meetings. According to sources close to the Vatican, he first received Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, for a working session of about an hour.

This meeting is particularly significant because Parolin was considered the great favorite of the conclave. His confirmation, even temporary, in his role as Secretary of State sends a signal of administrative continuity that many observers consider positive for this transition period.

The Pope then met with Msgr. Diego Ravelli, Master of Papal Liturgical Celebrations, to discuss details of the inauguration Mass scheduled for May 18.

In the early afternoon, Leon XIV also received Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo, who officially presented him with the report on the financial situation of the Holy See, a tradition that symbolically marks the complete transfer of temporal powers to the new pontiff.

Diplomatic Activity

The day was also marked by intense diplomatic activity. Although the Pope will not officially receive representatives of the diplomatic corps until Friday, May 16, congratulations from heads of state and government from around the world poured into the Vatican.

According to diplomatic sources, US President Donald Trump had a brief telephone conversation with the Pope in the early afternoon. This conversation between the first American pope and the President of the United States was particularly anticipated, given the sometimes tense relations between Trump and the Catholic Church on issues such as immigration.

The Holy See did not officially communicate on the content of this exchange, but sources close to the Vatican indicate that the conversation was "cordial and constructive," notably addressing the contribution of American Catholics to society and efforts for world peace.

Preparation for Key Appointments

Behind the scenes, the day was also devoted to preparing future appointments that will shape the Roman Curia under Leon XIV's pontificate.

Although nothing has been made official, several concordant sources indicate that Msgr. Luis Marín de San Martín, a Spanish bishop and Augustinian like the Pope, could be appointed substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, thus replacing Msgr. Edgar Peña Parra.

This appointment, if confirmed, would be significant in several respects. First, it would place another Augustinian in a key position, strengthening the influence of this religious order in Church governance. Second, it would signal a desire for progressive but determined reform of the Roman Curia, as San Martín is known for his positions in favor of greater administrative transparency.

An Evening of Prayer and Meditation

Contrary to some expectations, the Pope did not multiply public appearances during this first day. According to his personal secretary, Leon XIV wished to devote his evening to prayer and meditation, in the Augustinian tradition that values interiority and spiritual search.

This decision probably reflects both the new pontiff's personal temperament, known for his discretion, and his desire to anchor his ministry in a deep spiritual life.

The New Pontificate's Busy Agenda

The Holy See Press Office published the official program for the first weeks of Leon XIV's pontificate at the end of the day, revealing a particularly busy agenda.

Immediate Appointments

• Saturday, May 10: Meeting with all cardinals, including those who did not participate in the conclave due to their age (over 80 years). This collective audience will allow the Pope to thank the College of Cardinals and present some of his priorities.

• Sunday, May 11: First presiding over the Regina Caeli prayer from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at 12:00 PM. This will be Leon XIV's first major public appearance since his election, and a large crowd is expected to gather in St. Peter's Square for the occasion.

• Monday, May 12: Meeting with representatives of international media at the Vatican at 8:00 AM GMT. This audience, to be held in the vast Paul VI Hall, will allow the Pope to address the world press directly and potentially answer a few pre-selected questions.

Inauguration Mass and Official Ceremonies

The major event of these first weeks will undoubtedly be the solemn Mass of inauguration of the pontificate, scheduled for Sunday, May 18, in St. Peter's Square.

This ceremony, rich in symbols and traditions, will include the bestowal of the pallium (a white wool stole symbolizing the Pope's pastoral function) and the Fisherman's Ring, which serves as the papal seal.

Official delegations from dozens of countries are expected for the occasion, as well as representatives from other Christian denominations and major world religions. In 2013, Pope Francis's inauguration Mass gathered more than 150,000 faithful and about a hundred official delegations.

According to the published program, other important events will quickly follow:

• Friday, May 16: Audience with the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See. This traditional meeting with ambassadors from more than 180 countries will allow the new pontiff to outline the main lines of Vatican diplomacy under his pontificate.

• Wednesday, May 21: First weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square. These audiences, established by Paul VI and continued by all his successors, constitute a regular meeting between the Pope and the faithful from around the world.

Major Issues Awaiting the Pope

Beyond these first official appointments, several urgent issues await Leon XIV on his desk.

According to sources within the Vatican, the Pope plans to convene the Council of Cardinals (C9) as early as the end of May to assess the reform of the Roman Curia initiated by Francis. The apostolic constitution "Praedicate Evangelium," promulgated in 2022, laid the foundations for this reform, but several aspects of its implementation remain to be finalized.

The issue of episcopal appointments is also among the priorities, with more than 30 dioceses currently vacant worldwide. With his experience leading the Dicastery for Bishops, Leon XIV could accelerate these appointments in the coming weeks.

On the international front, the pursuit of peace in conflict zones should quickly figure on the papal agenda. According to diplomatic sources, the Vatican is already considering initiatives concerning several hotspots, particularly in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Finally, the question of synodality and the follow-up to the Synod on Synodality, whose second session was held in October 2024, represents a major challenge. The conclusions of this process, which aimed to rethink the modes of governance and participation within the Church, await a post-synodal apostolic exhortation that Leon XIV could publish in the coming months.

First International Reactions

This first day of the pontificate has sparked numerous reactions around the world, testifying to the global importance of the election of a new pope.

Unanimous Congratulations

From Washington to Beijing, from Jerusalem to Moscow, messages of congratulations and good wishes multiplied. In addition to the aforementioned call from the American president, several other leaders made a point of personally addressing the new pontiff.

The President of Peru, Dina Boluarte, was particularly moved by this election, describing this day as a "historic moment for Peru." In a message posted on social media, she hailed the choice of "Robert Francis Prevost, an American born in Chicago but who became a Peruvian citizen in 2015." "He chose to be one of us, to live among us, and to carry in his heart the faith, culture, and dreams of this country," she added, recalling the more than twenty years Leon XIV spent in her country, first as a missionary in Piura and Trujillo, then as Bishop of Chiclayo.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, a practicing Catholic, also sent a warm message to the new pope, describing his election as a "historic day for Catholics and all those who look to the Vatican for guidance." "In this time of global challenges, may his pontificate carry a mission of solidarity, compassion, and dignity for all," he concluded.

Latin America Celebrates

While the United States can technically claim the first American pope, celebrations were most vibrant in Latin America. From Mexico City to Buenos Aires, thanksgiving Masses were spontaneously organized in cathedrals and parishes.

In Chiclayo, the Peruvian city where Prevost was bishop for eight years, thousands of faithful gathered in the plaza de armas to celebrate their former pastor who had become pope. The Santa María Cathedral rang its bells for a full hour at noon, and the current bishop, Msgr. Carlos García Camader, presided over a solemn Mass of thanksgiving.

"Our diocese is blessed to have had as pastor the one who now guides the universal Church," said Msgr. García Camader in his homily. "His simplicity, his devotion to the poor, and his deep love for our people remain engraved in our hearts."

A Pontificate Beginning Under the Sign of Continuity and Renewal

At the end of this first day of the pontificate, several observers agree in seeing in Leon XIV's first gestures and words the signs of a balance between continuity and renewal.

Continuity with Francis's pontificate in attention to the peripheries and contemporary challenges such as peace, ecology, and social justice. But also renewal in style, more sober and interior, reflecting the Augustinian spirituality that has shaped Robert Francis Prevost's religious life.

"What we are observing is not a rupture, but a deepening," analyzes Vatican expert Marco Politi. "Leon XIV seems to want to continue the major orientations of his predecessor, but with a more pronounced emphasis on the spiritual and contemplative dimension of the Christian faith."

This first day thus gives a glimpse of a pontificate that could combine the social commitment dear to Francis with a rediscovery of the spiritual roots of this commitment, in line with the great Augustinian tradition for which the love of God and love of neighbor are inseparable.

The busy schedule awaiting the new pope in the coming weeks will tell us more about his priorities and style of governance. But already, this historic day of May 9, 2025, marks the beginning of a new chapter in the two-thousand-year history of the Catholic Church.