On May 18, 2025, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the Pontificate Start Mass in St. Peter’s Square, receiving the fisherman’s ring and meeting the Ukrainian President Zelensky to discuss peace in Ukraine
On May 18, 2025 he marked the beginning of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, perka Robert Francis Prevostthe first US pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church. The day was characterized by moments of profound spirituality and significant diplomatic encounters.
The Pontificate Start Mass
At 10:00, in a crowded Piazza San Pietro with over 200,000 faithful and 150 international delegations, the solemn Pontificate Start Mass took place. During the homily, Pope Leo XIV said: “I was chosen without any merit and, with fear and tremor, I come to you as a brother who wants to make the servant of your faith and your joy.” He also underlined the importance of love and unity as the foundations of the Petrine Mission.
The symbolism of the fisherman’s ring
During the ceremony, the Pope was delivered the ring of the fisherman, a symbol of his role as successor of San Pietro. Visibly moved, Leone XIV observed the ring with emotion, looking at the sky. This gesture underlined the pontiff’s awareness regarding the responsibility of his new assignment.
Meeting with President Zelensky
After the solemn Pontificate Start Mass, Pope Leo XIV received the Ukrainian President Volodymy Zlensky and the First Lady Olena Zelenska at the Chamber of Vatican in the Vatican. This meeting represents the first bilateral interview of the new pontiff with a head of state, underlining the urgency and centrality of the Ukrainian crisis in the diplomatic agenda of the Holy See.
During the meeting, Zelensky expressed profound gratitude for the Pope’s attention to the “battered Ukraine” and for the appeal in favor of a “just and lasting peace” launched during Mass. He also thanked the Vatican for the willingness to act as a platform for direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, underlining Kyiv’s readiness to dialogue in any format to obtain concrete results.
The Ukrainian president renewed the official invitation to the Holy Father to visit Ukraine, already extended during a previous telephone conversation on May 12th. The Ukrainian ambassador to the Holy See, Andrii Yurash, confirmed that this invitation was reiterated during the hearing.
The meeting took place in an atmosphere of profound cordiality and spiritual sharing, with the Pope who welcomed Zelensky and his wife in the study of the Paul VI Hall. At the end, the traditional exchange of gifts was held within the so -called “auletta” Paul VI.
This meeting marks a significant step in the commitment of the Holy See for Peace in Ukraine, highlighting the will of Pope Leo XIV to continue in the diplomatic tradition of the Church as a mediator in international conflicts.
A pontificate in the name of peace
Since the first moments of his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV has emphasized the need to build dialogue and reconciliation bridges. In his message, he highlighted the desire for a church that is the ferment of a reconciled world, capable of facing contemporary challenges with love and unity.
The day of May 18, 2025 will remain in history as the beginning of a pontificate oriented towards peace and brotherhood between peoples.
