Pope Leo XIV officially in office: royals and diplomats celebrate in Rome!

Pope Leo XIV officially in office: royals and diplomats celebrate in Rome!

On May 18, 2025, the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV took place in St. Peter's Square in Rome, just three weeks after the burial of his predecessor, Pope Francis. The event attracted an immense crowd, with around 200,000 believers celebrating mass. The mood was one of great anticipation and respect for the new pontificate.

Numerous royals and heads of state from all over the world traveled to the celebrations. Among those present was King Felipe VI. and Queen Letizia of Spain and King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. In a striking contrast, King Charles III remained. and Queen Camilla absent from the ceremony. The British royal family was instead represented by Prince Edward.

Delegations and prominent guests

The presence of international government delegations was particularly outstanding. The largest delegation came from Italy led by President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The US was also represented, with Vice President James D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Antonio Rubio attending with their spouses, while US President Donald Trump was not present. Chancellor Friedrich Merz traveled from Germany, accompanied by other German delegates.

The delegation from Austria consisted of important political figures, including Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker and National Council President Walter Rosenkranz. Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter was also present at the inauguration. From the EU, Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and Parliament President Roberta Metsola were there with their husbands.

In addition to political representation, religious leaders from various faiths were also present. This included the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Patriarch Bartholomew, as well as representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate. Jewish representatives such as Rabbi Abraham Skorka of Argentina and other leading rabbis also took part. Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and other faith communities were also represented, showing the diversity of the religious landscape that celebrated the new pope.

Absences and special aspects

Although many royals were in attendance, the absence of other familiar faces is noted. Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia as well as Denmark's King Frederik X and Queen Mary were not invited. Instead, Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria traveled alone when her husband, Prince Daniel, was not scheduled to attend. Norway's Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit also stayed away from the ceremony, possibly due to Norway's national holiday, which is celebrated on May 17.

The inauguration of Pope Leo XIV represents not only a new beginning for the Catholic Church, but also a moment of global unity. With the presence of around 150 official delegations and believers from all over the world, the event symbolized hope and faith in a new era in the papacy.

For more information about the inauguration and the delegations in attendance, see coverage by Mercury and Vatican News.