Vatican Schedules May 18 Inauguration Mass for Pope Leo XIV

The Vatican has announced that the inauguration mass for Pope Leo XIV will take place on Sunday, May 18, in St. Peter’s Square, marking the formal start of his papacy.

The event comes 10 days after the historic election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who made history as the first American to be elected pope, succeeding after four rounds of voting during the papal conclave.

World leaders and dignitaries are expected to attend the high-profile ceremony, which will be held at the heart of the Catholic Church in Rome.

In the days leading up to the inauguration, the new pontiff will begin official duties, including a meeting with journalists on Monday and with diplomats accredited to the Holy See on Friday.

Pope Leo XIV’s first general audience is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21, and he will hold an audience with the Roman Curia—senior Vatican officials—on Saturday, May 24.

Cardinal Prevost was formally declared pope on Thursday, as white smoke from the Sistine Chapel signaled his election to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.