Pope Leo XIV has held his inaugural mass in front of an estimated 200,000 people in St Peter’s Square, and set the tone for his papacy.
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Born in the city of Chicago in the United States of America, Robert Francis Prevost became the first US leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics ten days ago.
In his inaugural mass attended by world dignitaries, the 69-year-old Pope called for a stop the exploitation of nature and marginalization of the poor.
Before leaders including President Tinubu of Nigeria, Vice-President J. D Vance of the United States, President Zelensky of Ukraine amongst others, Pope Leo XIV called for the Church to be a transformational force in a world of division and hatred.
“In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest,” he said in his homily.
Prevost, who was made a cardinal only in 2023 and is unknown to many Catholics, has repeatedly emphasized the importance of peace and social justice in his first days as pope.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
