Pope, 18 May mass at beginning of pontificate. Cardinal Dolan: Leo XIV will also want to build bridges with Trump

"I felt emotion, emotion, profound joy and gratitude to the Lord who, through the wise discernment of the cardinals, first in the congregations and then in the Conclave, gave the Catholic Church the new bishop of Rome, then gave us the new Pope". This is what Monsignor Francesco Savino, vice-president of the Italian Episcopal Conference and bishop of the diocese of Cassano allo Ionio (Cosenza), says.

"We have decided to increase the forces in the field also for this Sunday when Pope Leo will appear for the Regina Caeli, which will probably attract many people. There will be the maximum deployment of forces when it comes to the Roma Capitale police and civil protection, and there will also be 500 stewards on the field". We discussed how to deal with these two very busy Sundays. For sure, the inaugural mass on the 18th will be a big event that will require the same deployment that we put in place for the funeral of Pope Francis. Transport will also be strengthened, so the frequency of the metro, even though it is a Sunday, will be increased, as will surface transport and cleaning services'. Thus the mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, at the end of the provincial committee for order and security held this afternoon in the prefecture in Rome

"For the Pope's enthronement ceremony we expect a large presence of the faithful, we will repeat the security arrangements of Pope Francis' funeral". This was said by the prefect of Rome, Lamberto Giannini, at the end of the first provincial committee for order and security after the election of Pope Leo XIV. "More than 5,000 members of the forces of law and order will be involved," he added, "which will see a congruous number of specialised personnel for escorts and public order, sharpshooters, divers, air cover by the Air Force and anti-drone activity.

"For the funeral of Pope Francis we have calculated 250 thousand presences in the area of St. Peter's Square, so I think it is reasonable on 18 May to expect figures in line". This was said by the prefect of Rome, Lamberto Giannini, at the end of the provincial Committee for order and security. 'The machine has already started, it is a work in progression,' Giannini added.

There are no indications as to when the seals that were affixed with the death of Pope Francis in both the Domus di Santa Marta and the Apostolic Palace will be broken. It will be Leo XIV who will determine when they are to be broken. Tomorrow's meeting with the cardinals, the Vatican notes, will be private.

The Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, is expected to be in Rome for Pope Prevost's inauguration mass on Sunday 18 May. On that occasion - we learn - he is expected to ask Leo XIV for a private meeting for an invitation to Nicaea on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the Council.

Russia expects that the election of the new Pope Leo XIV will foster the development of dialogue between Moscow and the Vatican. This was stated by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. "We expect that with the election of Pope Leo XIV the steady development of dialogue between Russia and the Vatican will continue, on a basis of equality and mutual respect," the spokeswoman noted, quoted by the Tass news agency. Zakharova also stressed that Moscow appreciates its constructive dialogue with the Vatican on a number of humanitarian issues in the context of the conflict in Ukraine.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has written to the new Pontiff, Leo XIV, to express his ''hope that we can work together to put an end to humanitarian tragedies, especially the one in Gaza''. This was reported by the Anadolu news agency, emphasising that Erdogan congratulated Robert Francis Prevost on his election as Pope.

"What is striking about Pope Leo XIV is his way of being: he is a delicate person, of a very intense humanity, who creates spontaneity. His programme is in the words addressed to the faithful from the Loggia of Blessings: peace, dialogue, spirituality - the yards of Pope Francis". Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi wrote this on X, the day after the election of Leo XIV to the throne of Peter.

"I am convinced that Pope Leo XIV will continue the path of communion and closeness to the poor that has characterised the pontificate of Francis". This was said by Monsignor Edinson Edgardo Farfán Córdova, bishop of Chiclayo, the town in northern Peru where Robert Prevost carried out much of his pastoral mission. "From the moment he arrived in Peru, he fell in love with the country. He worked in Chulucanas, Trujillo and Chiclayo, where he left a spiritual and human mark that many of us still remember. There are photos of him walking through the hills of Piura. He was a shepherd among the people, a man with the smell of sheep,' Farfán said. A sentiment also shared by the dozens of faithful who gathered in front of the Chiclayo cathedral last night and chanted in unison: "The Pope is Chiclayo, long live the Pope!"

"I believe that the Lord commissioned Leo XIV to be a prophet of peace and unity. His ability to unite the two continents is an important promise for the programme of peace that he announced with his first words". This is how the Archbishop of Milan, Monsignor Mario Delpini, commented on the election of Pope Prevost at the microphones of the regional Tgr.

The new American Pope, besides Italian and Spanish origins, would have Creole ancestors from New Orleans. This was reported by the New York Times. Leo's maternal grandparents lived in the Seventh District of the Louisiana city, a traditionally Catholic area and a melting pot of people with African, Caribbean and European roots. Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquié moved to Chicago in the early 20th century and had a daughter: Mildred Martinez, the Pope's mother. The discovery means that Leo XIV is not only the first pontiff born in the United States, but also comes from a family with the complex and rich fabric of American history.

Leo XIV, when he lived in Chicago, voted in the Illinois Republican primaries in 2012, 2014 and 2016, according to election records. The Washington Post reports this, adding that Prevost also voted in general elections, the last one last November, via absentee ballot (Illinois does not have a party registration system, but voters choose the party primary to vote for)

The Prefecture of the Papal Household released a note with the upcoming appointments of Pope Leo XIV.

On 10 May, there will be a meeting with the Cardinals, on 11 May, from the Central Loggia of the Basilica, the recitation of the Regina Caeli.

On 12 May the Pope meets the world press, on 16 May the Diplomatic Corps, on 18 May the Mass of the beginning of the pontificate, on 20 May the taking of possession of the Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, on 21 May the first General Audience, on 24 the meeting with the Roman Curia and the SCV employees. On 25 May, after the recitation of the Regina Caeli, there will be the taking of possession of the Papal Basilica of St John Lateran and the taking of possession of the Papal Basilica of St Mary Major.

The mass for the beginning of Pope Prevost's pontificate will be held on 18 May,' reports a note from the Prefecture of the Papal Household.

"The worst choice for Maga Catholics", the election of Leo XIV "is an anti-Trump vote by the globalists in the Curia": is the reaction of Steve Bannon, Donald Trump's former chief strategist during his first term in the White House. Politico reports. Bannon, a week ago, predicted the election of Cardinal Prevost. In an interview with British anchorman Piers Morgan he had referred to him as a 'dark horse', an outsider driven by those strong powers that the Maga movement identifies in the so-called 'Deep State' and 'Deep Church'.

"His Holiness Leo XIV has expressed the wish that the Heads and Members of the Institutions of the Roman Curia, as well as the Secretaries and the President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, continue, provisionally, in their respective offices donec aliter provideatur. The Holy Father wishes, in fact, to reserve some time for reflection, prayer and dialogue, before any definitive appointment or confirmation". This was reported in a note from the Holy See press office.

He is not Brazilian, as hoped by the rector of the Shrine of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, but the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, who is of American descent, will nevertheless have 'a special focus on Latin America', having carried out part of his ministry in Peru, and will give priority to social issues: this is what the Archbishop Emeritus of Aparecida, Raymundo Damasceno Assis, has said. "Based on the brief message he addressed immediately after his election, there on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, to that gathered crowd and broadcast to the entire world, his pontificate will give priority to building peace in today's world, marked by at least 30 conflicts," Assis said. The Brazilian Bishops' Conference (CNBB) also assured that Robert Prevost 'has a great affection, a great love for Brazil'. The new pontiff has already visited Brazil. The first time was in 2004, for the 70th anniversary of the Colégio Santo Agostinho. Then in 2013, during World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro.

Pope Leo XIV "expressed the desire for a Church that builds bridges, that encourages dialogue and is always a bearer of peace", a message that constitutes, "in a world marked by polarisation", an "urgent appeal to overcome divisions and clashes and to open paths towards mutual understanding": this was said by the King of Spain, Felipe VI. "May his pontificate be a real source of hope for humanity," added the Spanish monarch, speaking during the ceremony to award the Charles V European Prize to former EU High Representative Josep Borrell, at the Monastery of Yuste (Extremadura).

King Charles III has sent a private message of congratulations, in his capacity as head of the British State and nominal head of the Anglican Church, to the newly elected Pope Leo XVI. In the text the sovereign expresses, also on behalf of Queen Camilla, 'sincere good wishes for his Pontificate'. Buckingham Palace has not published the full text, as it is a private message, expressed in a more intimate form, but - according to reports - Charles emphasises, among other things, Pope Prevost's 'lifelong dedication to service, compassion and spiritual guidance' of the faithful. The British royals were the penultimate public figures to meet Pope Francis in their lifetime, in early April, on the sidelines of their recent state visit to Italy, before US Vice President JD Vance.

Card. King: Leo XIV will strengthen faith in the secularised world

"Leo XIV is a Pope of great spirituality. He will strengthen faith in God in this secularised world'. Cardinal Dean Giovanni Battista Re said this.

Pope Leo XIV's first mass in the Sistine Chapel, concelebrated with all the cardinals applauding the new Pontiff, has ended.

"I will begin with a word in English and the rest is in Italian, but I want to repeat the words of the Responsorial Psalm: I will sing a new canticle to the Lord because he has done wonders and not only with me, but with all of us". These are the words spoken in English by Leo XIV introducing the homily of the Mass concelebrated this morning with the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. "My brother cardinals," he continued, "as we celebrate this morning, I invite you to recognise the wonders that the Lord has wrought, the blessings that the Lord continues to shower upon us all. "Through the ministry of Peter," added Pope Prevost, "you have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission. And I know I can count on each of you to walk with me as we continue as the Church, as a community of friends of Jesus, as believers, to proclaim the good news, to proclaim the Gospel, to say that Christ is the Son of the living God."

At the end of his homily at the Mass concelebrated with the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, Leo XIV indicated "an inalienable commitment for anyone in the Church who exercises a ministry of authority: to disappear so that Christ may remain, to make oneself small so that He may be known and glorified (cf. Jn 3:30), to spend oneself to the utmost so that no one may lack the opportunity to know and love Him". "May God give me this grace, today and always, with the help of the tender intercession of Mary Mother of the Church," added Pope Prevost.

"Even today there is no lack of contexts in which Jesus, though appreciated as a man, is reduced only to a kind of charismatic leader or superman, and this not only among non-believers, but also among many baptised people, who thus end up living, at this level, in a de facto atheism". So said Leo XIV commenting on the Gospel in the homily of his first Mass, concelebrated with the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel.

"Thank you very much, Angel. Everything is in God's hands'. This is the answer given on Whatsapp by the new pope, Leo XIV, to the good luck of his "close" Spanish friend Father Ángel Camino, episcopal vicar of the Archdiocese of Madrid, a few hours before the Conclave: the latter told the microphones of Cadena Ser radio. "Now I can tell it publicly," Camino said, adding that he received this message from Robert Francis Prevost "at 11:48pm" on 6 May. "We have a great relationship, we love each other very much," Father Ángel explained, adding that he met him when the current new Pope was prior general of the Order of St Augustine and maintained "a very great epistolary relationship" with him. Camino described Leo XIV as "a profoundly human man, profoundly educated, profoundly Christian, Augustinian to the core", as well as a person endowed with "charisma" and with a profile of a "pastor and missionary". "I am convinced that Francis may have seen in him a Pope," he added.

"Many hoped for me as Pope? I never hoped. First Bologna must win the Scudetto, let's start with the Coppa Italia'. This is how Cardinal Matteo Zuppi joked with journalists who intercepted him in Via della Conciliazione shortly before the start of the first mass of Leo XIV. 'In principle, the Pope is always good,' he replied when asked about the new Pontiff. Whether he will follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis? "I am still in apnea," he said.

Pope Leo XIV will remain for the time being in the Casa Santa Marta, where his predecessor Francis stayed. It will be necessary to wait for the start of work at the Apostolic Palace - where historically all popes stay - as is the case for every new election. An organisational meeting should be held today to decide on the work schedule. Only at the end will Prevost make a decision. Until the day of his election, the new Pontiff was instead staying at the Palace of the Holy Office.

Pope Prevost's first mass in the Sistine Chapel. All cardinals, electors and non-electors concelebrate with Leo XIV.

Today Leo XIV will celebrate Mass in the Sistine Chapel with the cardinals at 11 a.m. On Sunday he will recite the Regina Coeli at 12 noon from the Central Loggia. On Monday 12 May at 10am, as is tradition, Pope Prevost will meet media workers for an audience in the Paul VI Hall at 10am.

Pope Leo XIV made his first surprise exit: he returned to greet people at the Palace of the Holy Office where he lived.