Home/Stay Informed/All Diocesan Articles

All Diocesan Articles

A Papacy Begins: Pope Leo XIV Calls for United Church at Inaugural Mass

Posted on May 19, 2025 in: News

A Papacy Begins: Pope Leo XIV Calls for United Church at Inaugural Mass

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday formally began his ministry as head of the 1.4 billion members of the universal Catholic Church, acknowledging divisions among the faithful with a call for fraternal communion and unity at his inaugural Mass.

Addressing an estimated 150,000 people crowded into St. Peter’s Square and the surrounding streets, the 69-year-old pope, elected May 8, said: “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.”

Under Pope Francis, the Church experienced internal division over issues of liturgy and moral doctrine on sexuality and the family, including the approval of the blessing of same-sex couples.

At the Mass, concelebrated with the members of the College of Cardinals, Leo expressed his intention to “come to you as a brother, who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy, walking with you on the path of God’s love, for he wants us all to be united in one family.”

Leo XIV has indicated his desire for collegiality from his first moment as pope, when he spoke about walking together as a united Church in his opening words to the world on May 8, following the announcement of his election. He also held an early meeting with cardinals where they were invited to speak up on whatever issue concerned them, something that had not happened under Francis since 2014.

Reflecting on the qualities expected in the successor of St. Peter, he said: “If the rock is Christ, Peter must shepherd the flock without ever yielding to the temptation to be an autocrat, lording it over those entrusted to him.”

Hundreds of religious and international leaders and dignitaries, representing nearly 200 foreign delegations, attended the Mass for the Beginning of the Petrine Ministry of the Bishop of Rome on May 18, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

FULL TEXT: Pope Leo XIV’s homily at inaugural Mass beginning his Petrine ministry

In his homily, Leo spoke about the conclave that chose him to be the Church’s 267th pope: “Coming from different backgrounds and experiences, we [the cardinal electors] placed in God’s hands our desire to elect the new successor of Peter, the bishop of Rome, a shepherd capable of preserving the rich heritage of the Christian faith and, at the same time, looking to the future, in order to confront the questions, concerns, and challenges of today’s world.”

“Love and unity: These are the two dimensions of the mission entrusted to Peter by Jesus,” the pontiff added.

Quoting St. Augustine — who inspired the religious Order of St. Augustine, to which he belongs — Pope Leo XIV said: “The Church consists of all those who are in harmony with their brothers and sisters and who love their neighbor.”

The pope lamented the discord and wounds of our time: “For our part, we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion, and fraternity within the world.”

Before delivering his homily, Leo received the symbols of the papacy, the pallium and the fisherman’s ring, in a richly-symbolic rite including an act of obedience and fidelity from representatives of the College of Cardinals and “the people of God.”

The pallium, a narrow band made of white lamb’s wool, was draped over his shoulders. The pallium, which has two black flaps and three pins representing the nails of Christ’s cross, symbolizes the bishop as the good shepherd and Christ the Lamb crucified for the salvation of the human race.

The gold fisherman’s ring, a part of the papal insignia since the first millennium, has the image of St. Peter with the keys and fisherman’s net, a symbol of authority and the duty entrusted to St. Peter by Jesus to be “a fisher of men.”

After the sung proclamation of the Gospel in Latin and Greek — the passage from the Gospel of John, when Jesus asks Peter “do you love me?” and commands him to “feed my lambs” and “tend my sheep” — Cardinal Dominique Mamberti placed the pallium around Leo’s shoulders and Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, OFM Cap, recited a prayer.

With visible emotion, Leo received the fisherman’s ring from Cardinal Luis Tagle, looking at the ring and then lifting his face in prayer.

His papal name and elements from his coat of arms — the fleur-de-lis, a symbol of purity and the Virgin Mary, and a pierced heart, the traditional symbol of the Augustinian order — are engraved on the inside of the ring.

Before the Mass, Pope Leo XIV took his first ride in the popemobile, standing and waving to the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square and Via Conciliazione, the main thoroughfare to the Vatican basilica.

The rite for the beginning of the pontificate started with Leo praying at the tomb of St. Peter together with the cardinals, who then walk in solemn procession together through St. Peter’s Basilica to St. Peter’s Square.

An image of our Mother of Good Counsel from the Italian Sanctuary of Genazzano, which Leo visited on May 10 in one of his first acts as pope, was placed to the left of the altar.

“This is the hour for love!” Pope Leo said in his homily. “The heart of the Gospel is the love of God that makes us brothers and sisters. With my predecessor Leo XIII, we can ask ourselves today: If this criterion ‘were to prevail in the world, would not every conflict cease and peace return?’ (Rerum Novarum, 21).”

“With the light and the strength of the Holy Spirit, let us build a Church founded on God’s love,” he continued, “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.”

At the end of Mass, Leo appealed for “a just and lasting peace” around the world, especially in Gaza, Myanmar, and Ukraine, and sang the Regina Caeli, a Marian antiphon for the Easter season.

In addition to international leaders and dignitaries, a large number of religious representatives attended the first papal Mass, including members of the Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Zoroastrianism, and Jainism religions.

Around 36 different Christian churches or organizations were also represented, with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and Patriarch Theophilos III of the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem in attendance.

Jewish leaders from Italy, Israel, and the United States also came to the Mass, including the head rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni.

By Hannah Brockhaus


Most Viewed Articles of the Last 30 Days

Calendar of Events

Posted on July 04, 2025 in: Events, Around the Diocese

31504

The Role of Spirituality in a Caregiver’s Life
    When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.                                                  &...

Read More

Join Bishop Reidy for a Youth Hike!

Posted on June 17, 2025 in: News, Events

1700

Join Bishop Reidy for a Youth Hike!
Middle School and High School youth are invited to a special hike with Bishop Reidy on Saturday, July 19th at 10:00 A.M. at Hurd State Park in East Hampton. Hurd State Park provides the perfect backdrop for a meaningful outdoor adventure, blending fun, exercise, scenic views, and moments of spiritual reflection. The park's flexible trails, peaceful riverside spots, and stunning overlooks make it an ideal place to connect with nature and one another. What to bring: Comfortable shoes, water, and a picnic lunch. Parents are welcome, and Youth Groups are encoura...

Read More

Now Hiring: Faith Filled Educators

Posted on June 17, 2025 in: News, School News

1239

Now Hiring: Faith Filled Educators
There are several current job openings for educators in our diocese.  The positions are updated weekly, so be sure to bookmark this page in your browser-  NorwichDiocese.org/Employment Click Here to See the Current Open Positions  All candidates must complete the official professional application to be considered for a teaching position or principal position and submit it to the Diocesan School Office. Applications are available on the employment page of the website. Visit NorwichDiocese.org/Employment to view all of the open jobs in the di...

Read More

Prayer for Our Nation

Posted on July 03, 2025 in: News

1148

Prayer for Our Nation
  Prayer for Our Nation   God our Father, Giver of life, we entrust the United States of America to Your loving care. You are the rock on which this nation was founded. You alone are the true source of our cherished rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Reclaim this land for Your glory and dwell among Your people. Send Your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation’s leaders. Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Remind Your people that true happiness is r...

Read More

Clergy Appointments

Posted on July 09, 2025 in: News, Vocations

949

Clergy Appointments
July 3, 2025 The Most Reverend Richard F. Reidy, Bishop of Norwich, has made the following clergy and diocesan appointments in the Diocese of Norwich   DIOCESAN APPOINTMENT Rev. Msgr. Leszek T. Janik, JCL, Vicar General of the Diocese of Norwich, while continuing as Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Norwichtown, and Saint Joseph Church, Norwich. Effective: June 5, 2025. Very Rev. Ted Tumicki, STL, JCL, Judicial Vicar for the Tribunal Office of the Diocese of Norwich. Effective: June 5, 2025.   CLERGY APPOINTMENT Reverend Francis Gi...

Read More

Annual Catholic Appeal

ACA DONATE

English

Español

 

Latest Articles
Looking Forward with Gratitude for What Has Been
In Memoriam: Sr. Eileen Smith, DHS (1921–2025)
Notre-Dame Cathedral Welcomes More Than 6 Million Visitors Since Reopening
Bishop Reidy to Take Part in Annual Stonington Blessing of the Fleet
5 Ways to Sanctify Your Summer Vacation and Evangelize
Pope Leo Meets with Supreme Knight, Supreme Chaplain
Clergy Appointments
Parishes Need to Launch 'Revolution of Care' for the Elderly, Pope Says
Recently Added Galleries
Click to view album: Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Richard F. Reidy
Click to view album: Students Called to Feed the Hungry
Click to view album: 40 Days for Life 2024
Click to view album: Blessing of the Fleet 2024
Signup for Weekly Newsletter

     

    Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
    201 Broadway
    Norwich, CT 06360-4328
    Phone: 860-887-9294