'Let us walk towards God and love one another' says Pope Leo XIV at Inauguration Mass

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday, May 18, presided over the Mass of Inauguration of his Petrine Ministry in Saint Peter’s Square and invited the Church to walk together along the path of God's love and remain united in one family, according to Vatican News.

More than 200,000 pilgrims and leaders from around the world attended the global gathering not only drew Christian denominations but also those in interfaith solidarity—Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Zoroastrian, and Jainists, among others.

The Holy Father began by thanking everyone for the prayer and support and expressed his heart: “Following the death of Pope Francis, we felt like sheep without a shepherd… Yet having received his final blessing on Easter Sunday, and with eyes of faith, hope, and joy, we remembered how the Lord never abandons His people.”

He also thanked the faithful for their prayers during the conclave, adding the Holy Spirit guided the cardinals like musical instruments in harmony to elect the successor of Peter for the continuation of the mission of preaching the Gospel to address today’s challenges.

"I was chosen, without any merit of my own, and now, with fear and trembling,. I come to you as a brother who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy, walking with you on the path of God’s love, for he wants us all to be united in one family," he said.

Pope Leo XIV said love and unity are the heart of Peter’s mission. 

Reflecting on Sunday’s Gospel, he emphasized the call Jesus gave to Peter and the disciples to be “fishers of men” and bear the hope of the Gospel to the world. 

He explained that Peter was entrusted then with “loving more” and “giving his life for the flock,” a “self-sacrificing love” that was made possible by his experience of the “infinite and unconditional love of God.

“The ministry of Peter is distinguished precisely by this self-sacrificing love because the Church of Rome presides in charity, and its true authority is the charity of Christ. It is never a question of capturing others by force, religious propaganda, or using power. Instead, it is always and only a question of loving as Jesus did,” said Leo XIV. 

He shared his vision of "a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world."

Amid a world marked by widespread discord and the wounds inflicted by hatred, violence, prejudice, fear, and an economic reality that exploits the Earth’s resources while marginalizing the poorest, we aspire to be a small leaven of unity, communion, and fraternity; Leo XIV also desires to serve as a leaven of unity, fraternity, and reconciliation.

He urged, "We want to say to the world, with humility and joy: Look to Christ! Come closer to him! Welcome his word that enlightens and consoles! Listen to his offer of love and become his one family: in the one Christ, we are one.”

He added, "This is the path to follow together, among ourselves but also with our sister Christian churches, with those who follow other religious paths, with those who are searching for God, with all women and men of goodwill, to build a new world where peace reigns!"

The pope cautioned against withdrawing as a separate group and feeling superior and instead called for a missionary spirit that embraces all people and “values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people."

“Brothers and sisters, this is the hour for love! The heart of the Gospel is the love of God that makes us brothers and sisters,” he said.

Pope Leo XIV concluded by inviting all Christians to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit and to build a Church “founded on God’s love, a sign of unity, a missionary Church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word, allows itself to be made ‘restless’ by history, and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity.”

Also at the inauguration Mass, Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle placed the symbolic Fisherman’s Ring on the finger of Pope Leo XIV, showing an image of St. Peter, who is known as the fisherman's apostle. Also referred to as the Piscatory Ring, this ring symbolizes the continuous lineage from the first pope.

Tagle was one of three Filipinos who joined the conclave to elect the new pope.