First American Pope from Chicago Takes Office
First outing includes visit to Genazzano Shrine
Pays respects at predecessor’s grave
Urges not to forget the spirit of reform
Pope Leo XIV, elected during the conclave on May 10 (local time), made his first outing by visiting Catholic shrines and paying respects at the grave of former Pope Francis. The Holy See announced that Pope Leo XIV left the Vatican for the first time, visiting the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel in the small town of Genazzano, roughly an hour’s drive from Rome, before heading to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore where the late Pope Francis is buried.
This basilica, frequently visited by Pope Francis, became his final resting place according to his will. Pope Leo XIV slowly walked to the grave of Pope Francis, laid white flowers, and knelt in prayer for a moment.
Before visiting Santa Maria Maggiore, Pope Leo XIV visited the Shrine of ‘Our Lady of Good Counsel’ in Genazzano, managed by the Augustinian Order since 1200. Pope Leo XIV hails from this order. Born as Robert Prevost on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, USA, he was ordained in 1982 and is the first American pope.
Choosing this location as his first official visit outside the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV expressed his desire to begin his mission as Peter’s successor at the place he served Mass as a cardinal on April 25 of the previous year. In his first official meeting with the cardinals, Pope Leo XIV affirmed his commitment to continue the vision and reform path of Pope Francis, noting, “The precious legacy of Pope Francis must continue.”
Pope Leo XIV described Pope Francis as a visionary who guided the relatively conservative Catholic Church, with its 1.4 billion followers, to be more acceptable to the contemporary world, highlighting his dedication to service. He urged cardinals to remember the spirit of reform from the council that promoted celebrating Mass in local languages over Latin and encouraged dialogue with other religions.
Before becoming pope, Pope Leo XIV was relatively unknown globally, having spent much of his life as a missionary in Peru before holding high positions in the Vatican for the last two years. In his speech, he explained choosing the name ‘Leo’ in honor of Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903), who advocated for fair wages and treatment of workers during the Industrial Revolution.
Addressing new challenges, he emphasized the Church’s responsibility to protect workers from the impacts of emerging threats like artificial intelligence (AI). During the two-hour meeting with cardinals, unlike past popes who delivered one-sided speeches, Pope Leo XIV allowed for open discussion and exchange of ideas. Cardinal Gerhard Müller, known for his conservative stance and frequent doctrinal clashes with Pope Francis, praised the meeting for its harmonious nature.
At the recent conclave held on May 7-8, Pope Leo XIV reportedly secured over 100 out of 133 votes.