Pope Leo, Mass
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Pope Leo XIV on Friday celebrated mass in the Sistine Chapel as Italian media saluted the first American pope and called Paolo Sorrentino prophetic.
The pontiff, who was elected in a conclave that ended last Thursday, will be officially installed as the new leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Roman Catholics at a mass in St. Peter's Square on Sunday.
Some conservatives and traditionalist Catholics are cautiously optimistic over the historic election of Pope Leo XIV, hopeful he will return doctrinal rigor to the papacy, even as progressives sense he will continue Pope Francis’ reformist agenda.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Pope Leo XIV to Ukraine. During their first phone chat, Zelensky thanked him for supporting peace.