The Vatican on Friday announced that Pope Leo XIV will be installed during a Mass on May 18, with his first general audience scheduled for May 21.
The Holy See also released details of Pope Leo’s upcoming engagements, which include meetings with cardinals, Vatican officials, media representatives, members of the diplomatic corps, and the general public.
Following tradition, all heads of Vatican departments technically lost their positions upon the death of Pope Francis.
However, Pope Leo has asked them to continue in their roles for now, saying he wishes to dedicate time to “reflection, prayer and dialogue” before making any permanent decisions regarding their appointments.
Earlier, the newly elected pontiff celebrated his first Mass as pope in the Sistine Chapel, joined by the College of Cardinals who elected him.
Wearing white vestments, Pope Leo XIV entered the chapel and offered his blessing before the altar, with Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgement” forming a dramatic backdrop.
The Chicago-born Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, was elected the 267th pope on Thursday evening, becoming the first North American to lead the Roman Catholic Church.
He succeeds Pope Francis and is expected to continue his predecessor’s focus on social justice.
In his first homily, delivered fluently in Italian, Pope Leo XIV challenged his fellow cardinals to be bold witnesses of the Gospel, especially in environments where faith is marginalised or ridiculed.
He cautioned against an understanding of Jesus as merely a heroic figure and warned that many baptised Christians live as if God does not exist.
He closed his sermon with a solemn prayer, asking for the grace to let Christ shine through his papacy.
Touching on his background as a missionary in Peru, the pope reflected on the challenges and importance of preaching the Gospel in difficult settings.
“There are places where believers are mocked, opposed or barely tolerated, yet those are precisely the places where our presence is most vital,” he said.
At the start of the Mass, Pope Leo addressed the cardinals in English for the first time, thanking them for entrusting him with the papacy and asking for their support in advancing the Church’s mission.
