Pope Leo Vows to Unify Divided Catholic Church

Leo, in his sermon read in Italian, said he would continue the legacy of his predecessor by fighting poverty and championing the environment.

Pope Leo XIV delivers the Regina Caeli prayer after a Holy Mass for the Beginning of his Pontificate, in St Peter's square, in Vatican City, on May 18, 2025. Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images

On the first day of his reign as pontiff, May 18, Pope Leo XIV appealed to conservatives who felt disillusioned by his predecessor and vowed to unify the church while preserving its history.

During an outdoor Mass on Sunday, and following his first ride in the popemobile as tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the Roman Catholic Church formally installed him as the 267th pontiff and sovereign monarch of Vatican City.