Pope Leo XIV waves upon his arrival at the Arch Basilica of St. John Lateran where he will presides over a Mass and takes possession of the Roman Cathedra, formalising his role as Bishop of Rome, in Rome, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Leo XIV is greeted by Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri at the foot of Capitoline Hill, a symbolic gesture underscoring the pontiff’s role as Bishop of Rome and his civic bond with the city, in Rome, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)
Pope Leo XIV is greeted by Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri at the foot of Capitoline Hill, a symbolic gesture underscoring the pontiff’s role as Bishop of Rome and his civic bond with the city, in Rome, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)
Pope Leo XIV is greeted by Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri at the foot of Capitoline Hill, a symbolic gesture underscoring the pontiff’s role as Bishop of Rome and his civic bond with the city, in Rome, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)
Pope Leo XIV waves upon his arrival at the Arch Basilica of St. John Lateran where he will presides over a Mass and takes possession of the Roman Cathedra, formalising his role as Bishop of Rome, in Rome, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
ROME (AP) 鈥 Pope Leo XIV declared himself a Roman on Sunday as he completed the final ceremonial steps cementing his role as the bishop of Rome.
The first formally took possession of the St. John Lateran Basilica, which is Rome’s cathedral and seat of the diocese, with an evening Mass attended by Roman priests and faithful.
In his homily, Leo said he wanted to listen to them 鈥渋n order to learn, understand and decide things together.鈥
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One of the many titles that Leo assumed when he was elected May 8 was bishop of Rome. Given his responsibilities running the 1.4-billion strong universal Catholic Church, popes delegate the day-to-day governance of running of the diocese of Roman to a vicar.
Sunday’s ceremonies at the St. John Lateran and a stop at St. Mary Major basilicas follow Leo鈥檚 visit last week to the St. Paul Outside the Walls basilica. Together with St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica in the Vatican, the four papal basilicas are the most important basilicas in the West.
Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri welcomed Leo first at the steps to City Hall, noting that his May 8 election fell during a Holy Year, an event occurring every 25 years to invite pilgrims to Rome. The city underwent two years of traffic-clogging public works projects to prepare and expects to welcome upwards of 30 million people in 2025.
Leo said he felt the 鈥渟erious but passionate responsibility鈥 to serve all Romans during the Holy Year and beyond.
Wearing his formal papal garb, Leo recalled the words he had uttered from the loggia of St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica on the night of his election. The Augustinian pope quoted St. Augustine in saying: 鈥淲ith you I am Christian, and for you, bishop.鈥
鈥淏y special title, today I can say that for you and with you I am Roman!鈥 he said.
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The former Robert Prevost replaced , the first Latin American pope. Francis died April 21 and is buried at , near a beloved icon of the Madonna.
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