As many as 150,000 people turned out in the Vatican Sunday for Pope Leo XIV's installation mass, and many Chicagoans made the journey to Rome to represent their hometown pope. For a select few, the day was more special than they ever imagined.

Pope Leo XIV will preside over his inaugural mass today in front of St Peter’s Basilica, which marks the formal start of his papacy. JD Vance, Marco Rubio and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are attending.

President Bola Tinubu's aide has outlined his chat with Peter Obi and Kayode Fayemi at Pope Leo XIV's installation mass at the Vatican City on May 18, 2025.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney are in Rome is traveling to the Vatican to attend the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV, according to her office. “I am humbled and honored to be

Pope Leo's inauguration mass held on Sunday, May 19. After returning to Nigeria, Peter Obi shared why he did not personally meet the new Catholic Church head.

The service marks the official start of Leo's papacy just under a month after the death of his predecessor, Pope Francis. The ceremony began with a procession from St. Peter's Basilica — where Leo and other church leaders visited St. Peter's tomb to pray — to St. Peter's Square, where the Inauguration Mass was held.

The Vatican said some 200,000 people attended the Mass at St. Peter’s Square, which marked the start of the pontificate of the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Vice President JD Vance was among the dignitaries.