In his first mass as pope, Leo XIV urged the Catholic Church to confront the growing decline in faith, calling for a renewed missionary spirit and unity among believers. The 69-year-old American, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected on Thursday as the 267th pope and spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.
Addressing cardinals in the Sistine Chapel on Friday, Leo warned that many parts of the world have become hostile to the Gospel, where believers are often ridiculed or dismissed. These are precisely the places, he said, where the Church must reach out with urgency.
Leo, who spent two decades as a missionary in Peru, criticized environments where Christianity is seen as irrational or for the weak. Echoing concerns voiced by his predecessor, he pointed to the modern obsession with technology, power, and pleasure as signs of spiritual emptiness.
He warned that this “lack of faith” has led to a deeper societal crisis—loss of purpose, broken families, and a widespread erosion of human dignity. He emphasized that Jesus should not be seen as merely a charismatic figure, adding that even baptized Christians can fall into “practical atheism” by living without true spiritual conviction.
Leo also acknowledged the divisions within the Church, encouraging the cardinals to join him on a shared path forward: “I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me.”
The election of an American pope has surprised many around the world. Known in some circles as the “Latin Yankee” due to his missionary work in South America, Leo is seen as someone who blends tradition with compassion.
Video footage of his election showed Leo praying and receiving congratulations from fellow cardinals. Though relatively unknown on the global stage, his selection signals continuity with the late Pope Francis’s vision of a humble, socially conscious Church.
Leo’s early days as pope will be closely watched. He is scheduled to deliver the Regina Coeli prayer on Sunday, meet journalists on Monday, and address diplomats later this month. His inauguration mass will take place on May 18 in St Peter’s Square, drawing pilgrims and global leaders alike.
In Peru, those who knew him remembered his humility and closeness to ordinary people. In Chicago, where he grew up, locals celebrated the rise of one of their own—remembering his roots in a working-class neighborhood, his love of deep-dish pizza, and debates over whether he supports the White Sox or Cubs.
As pope, Leo faces immense challenges: addressing global conflicts, uniting a divided Church, and responding to scandals that continue to cast shadows. Yet his first message was one of peace, dialogue, and missionary commitment.
He called on the Church to “build bridges” and be a force for unity and compassion, reaffirming his commitment to a vision of the Church that serves, heals, and reaches out to the world.