From the fisherman's ring to the pallium, here is how the rite of the new Pope's first official mass works

The rite ofthe start of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, on Sunday 18 May, will begin at 9am, with an uncovered popemobile passage through the crowds in St Peter's Square, which is scheduled to open to the public at 6am.While waiting to know the number of faithful that will attend the mass and the composition of the delegations of governments and states from all over the world, it is confirmed that after the part of greeting to the faithful outside the basilica, the Pope will return to St. Peter's, to move to the altar of the Apostolic Confession, corresponding to the Tomb of Peter, where he will find resting the Papal Pallium and the papal ring that he will have to wear as symbols of his new universal service to the Church.

From the central gate of the Vatican Basilica will hang the tapestry of the miraculous fishing, depicting Jesus' dialogue with Peter, to which the rite makes explicit reference in the liturgy of the Word and in the texts pronounced. At the altar will be placed the effigy of Our Lady of Good Counsel from the Marian Shrine of Genazzano, so dear to the new pontiff.

Pope Prevost will then descend, with the Patriarchs of the Eastern Churches, to the Tomb of St. Peter and pause there in prayer, then incense the so-called Apostolic "Triumph". In the meantime, two deacons will take the Pastoral Pallium, the Fisherman's Ring and the Book of Gospels and carry them together in procession to place them on the Celebration Altar outside the Basilica in St. Peter's Square.

Then the Pontiff will go in procession, accompanied by the Patriarchs of the Catholic rite outside the place of worship for the beginning of the Mass, which will take place at 10 a.m. with the Liturgy of the Word. After the proclamation of the Gospel, in Latin and Greek, three Cardinals from the three Orders (Deacons, Presbyters and Bishops) and from different continents will approach the Pope to impose the Pallium on him and hand him the Fisherman's Ring.

After the rite of handing over, the Pope will bless the assembly with the Book of the Gospels, while hailing in Greek: "Ad multos annos!". Then the symbolic rite of "obedience" lent to the Pope by twelve representatives of all categories of God's people, from various parts of the world, and the continuation of the celebration with the Pope's homily and profession of faith.