Pope Leo XIV has celebrated his first Mass in the Sistine Chapel, the day after being elected pontiff
He said to the Cardinals that they had called him to be blessed with the mission of leading the Church.
“I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a Church, as a community of friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news, to announce the Gospel,” he said
Born in Chicago as Robert Prevost, he is the first North American to be elected pope.
Donald Trump called it a “great honour”
Pope Leo, 69, is seen as a reformer and worked for many years as a missionary in Peru, which he reportedly calls his “second homeland”
Many in Peru are proud of the new Pope, but allegations of a cover-up of sexual abuse cases will be among the challenges he faces, writes BBC South America correspondent, Ione Wells.
