Pope Leo XIV officially began his papacy with a grand Mass in St. Peter’s Square. During the ceremony, he was given the Palium—a white woolen band symbolizing his authority over the Church—and the Fisherman’s Ring, representing his role as a “fisher of men.”

His leadership begins with high hopes, especially among those who admired Pope Francis’s efforts to make the Church more open and youth-focused. While many expect Leo XIV to continue that path, it’ll take time to see what direction he takes.

Leo XIV is just the second Pope to come from the Americas. Though he was born in Chicago, he made clear right away that his heart remains deeply tied to Latin America. In one of his first messages, delivered in Spanish, he thanked the people of Chiclayo, Peru—a community where he lived and served for many years.

His connection to Peru runs deep. He first traveled there in 1985, launching a decades-long commitment to the Church in the region. Reflecting on those early years, Pope Leo XIV even revealed that his journey to the Vatican was, in his view, anticipated more than 26 years ago—though how he knew that remains part of his story yet to be told.