Pope Leo XIV Celebrates His First Mass As Pontiff A Day After His Election

20 hours ago Pope Leo XIV has celebrated his first Mass, a day after his historic election as the first U.S.-born pope in the church’s 2,000-year history. The election of cardinal Robert Prevost as the new pontiff overcame the traditional prohibition against a pope from the United States. On Friday, wearing white vestments, Leo processed into the Sistine Chapel and blessed the cardinals as he approached the altar and Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgement” behind it. It was in the same frescoed chapel that the Chicago-born missionary was elected the 267th pope the previous day. Meanwhile, congratulations are pouring in from world leaders and statesmen as Leo begins his papacy.