On a stunning Sunday at the Vatican, Pope Leo the 14th celebrated his inaugural Mass in front of 200,000+ faithful; think cardinals, world leaders, and the joyful roar of Viva il Papa! 🎉 Even Patriarch Bartholomew showed up, marking a beautiful moment of East-West Christian unity.
John Morales was joined by Ashley Noronha, reporting LIVE from the Camino in Spain, to unpack all the rich symbolism, emotion, and significance of this historic event.
What Did Pope Leo Say?
First impression: He’s humble, heartfelt, and not afraid to show his emotions. In his homily, Pope Leo said:
“I come to you as a brother who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy…”
Yeah. We’re crying too. 😭❤️
Themes of his homily included:
💒 Unity and Love: Echoing Jesus’ mission for Peter, Pope Leo called the Church to be a source of togetherness and brotherly love.
👣 Servant Leadership: A Pope who walks with his people, not ahead of them.
🌍 Missionary Zeal: The Church should share God’s love with everyone… not erasing differences but embracing each person’s gifts and history.
🫶 Call to Action: “This is the hour for love.”
And bonus Catholic nugget: He opened with St. Augustine’s quote:
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”
✝️Moments That Hit the Heart
Ashley highlighted some powerful liturgical highlights:
-The Pallium: A wool band symbolizing the Pope’s role as the shepherd, bearing pins representing Christ’s nails.
-The Fisherman’s Ring: Given with visible emotion in Pope Leo’s eyes.
-Cardinals’ Pledge: That sacred moment of obedience and unity from the College of Cardinals to their new Papa.
🕊️ Pilgrims, Police, and Presidents… Oh My!
This was a global moment. Ashley painted a vivid picture of the chaotic beauty of it all:
🧑✈️ 6,000 police officers, snipers, anti-drone systems, and helicopters… Rome brought the A-team for security.
🌍 Many world leaders, including Macron, Starmer, VP J.D. Vance, and Marco Rubio.
👑 Royal sightings from Spain, Belgium, Monaco, and England (represented by Prince Edward).
Even a Methodist woman in Spain told Ashley she was excited about our new Pope. Unity! ✝️❤️
🤝 Papal Meetings & Post-Mass Diplomacy
After Mass, Pope Leo met with:
-Zelensky: for hopeful talks about a ceasefire.
-President of Peru: a special reunion since Pope Leo once lived there.
-VP Vance and Sen. Rubio: chatting about religious freedom, international law, and Church-state cooperation.
A Pope with Heart ❤️
From his trembling voice during the homily to the deep tradition of the pallium, Pope Leo XIV shows every sign of being a loving, Scripture-rooted, unity-seeking shepherd.
This is the start of a whole new relationship between a Pope and his people.
“This is the hour for love.”
Let’s go, Church. 🌍💒🔥
The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
