In a historic and globally watched moment, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu joined other world leaders at the grand inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Francis Prevost the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
This remarkable event marks a significant shift in Church history, as Pope Leo XIV becomes the first-ever American-born pontiff to lead the over 1.4 billion Catholics across the globe.
The inaugural ceremony took place at the iconic St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, drawing tens of thousands of faithful pilgrims, clergy, and dignitaries. As tradition demands, the new pope made his debut in the symbolic white Popemobile, warmly waving, smiling, and blessing the crowd with the sign of the cross.
Pope Leo XIV officially stepped into his sacred role on May 8, and his inauguration mass, rich in centuries-old traditions, began at 10:00 am (0800 GMT). One of the highlights of the ceremony is the presentation of the papal ring a timeless symbol of his authority followed by a powerful homily expected to shape the future tone of his papacy.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and other global dignitaries graced the event, reflecting the magnitude of this historic transition.