In a popemobile, Pope Leo XIV, the first US pontiff, addressed tens of thousands of pilgrims and supporters before the ceremony’s opening mass.
Robert Francis Prevost, who was born in Chicago and became one of the 1.4 billion Catholics in the world on May 8, stood in the white car as it passed through enthralling crowds, waving, and waving the sign of the cross.
The inauguration mass, which starts at 10:00 am (0800 GMT), is one of the hundreds of dignitaries scheduled to attend.
Leo will preside over the elaborate rituals and symbols, where he will receive his unique papal ring before delivering a homily that will set the tone for his papacy.
Read more about Tinubu, Vance, and other world leaders’ gatherings for Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration.
The 69-year-old is unknown to many Catholics despite serving for 20 years as a missionary in Peru. However, he has shown glimpses of the kind of leader he will become.
In conversations with journalists, clergy, and diplomats, he frequently advocated social justice and called for peace in a conflict-filled world.
He also defended the rights of the unborn, citing traditional Catholic values, such as the importance of a “stable union of a man and a woman.”
Inacia Lisboa, 71, a native of the Cape Verde who currently resides in Rome, claimed she awoke early to find a good spot to see a man who she claimed had already “entered my heart.”
When asked what she wanted from him, she responded, “We need peace in the world so much.”
Zelensky, Merz,  
Leo’s elevation has sparked a lot of enthusiasm in the United States, which includes Marco Rubio, a Catholic, and Vance, who converted to Christianity on Sunday.
Prior to becoming pope, the new pontiff criticized President Donald Trump’s administration for how it handled immigration and attacked Vance, but the account is no longer accessible.
The day before the Argentine, who had spent 12 years as pontiff, met Pope Francis, the last world leader to meet with him.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the country’s ambassador to St. Peter’s Basilica at Francis’s funeral, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are among the other notable guests.
Along with Ursula von der Leyen, the president of Peru, Isaac Herzog, the president of Israel, Gustavo Petro of Colombia, and many other European royals, the Vatican has also listed the president of Peru.
For the occasion, Italian authorities have deployed snipers on rooftops and anti-drone operations, along with thousands of security personnel.
Fisherman’s ring,
Leo XIV won the cardinals’ secret conclave vote that lasted less than 24 hours on May 8 and became the 267th pope.
He succeeds the charismatic but impulsive Francis, succeeding the Church that is still struggling with the effects of the clerical child abuse scandal and trying to adapt to the contemporary world.
However, Sunday is not concerned with modernity.
The ceremony is a grand affair steeped in tradition, despite the fact that no pope has been crowned at an inauguration mass since Paul VI in 1963.
Leo will begin by visiting Saint Peter’s tomb, which is located beneath the basilica’s altar, where he was credited with being one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ and the first pope.
The fisherman’s ring, which is forged each time for each pope and he will wear on his finger until he passes away, will then be desecrated, along with the pallium, which is worn over the chasuble, his robe, and his ring.
The pope will accompany other cardinals and clergymen in procession into St. Peter’s Square, where large screens will show the proceedings.
The pope will address the heads of state delegations at the ceremony’s conclusion, though it’s not clear if any of them will also receive a one-on-one private audience.