Tens of thousands of well-wishers gathered for Leo XIV's inaugural mass at the Vatican, which sees him formally take up his role as leader of the global Catholic Church. Follow the latest here.
Sunday 18 May 2025 16:23, UK
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Volodymyr ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y has met with Pope Leo XIV following his inauguration Mass.
The Pope has offered the Vatican up as a venue to host peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
"The authority and voice of the Holy See can play an important role in bringing this war to an end," said ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y.
"We thank the Vatican for its willingness to serve as a platform for direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
"We are ready for dialogue in any format for the sake of tangible results. We appreciate the support for Ukraine and the clear voice in defense of a just and lasting peace."
While his predecessor Francis had eschewed many of the papacy's formalities, as part of his simple style, Leo took a different approach today.
He wore the traditional garb, which pleased conservatives and traditionalists who cheered when he came out of the loggia on 8 May wearing the red cape.
But today, as world leaders queued up to greet the Pope with a handshake, the new pontiff's brother forced a slight break in protocol.
When Louis Provost approached with his wife, he embraced his brother with a bear hug in the basilica.
Following mass, Pope Leo waited to greet a series of world leaders and dignitaries at the Vatican.
With around 200 delegations from around the world, the Pope was kept busy for a fair while.
Here are a few images from his extended meet-and-greet.
Some more diplomatic movements to bring you now from the sidelines at the Vatican.
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he - along with the leaders of the UK, France and Poland - want to speak to Donald Trump ahead of his planned call with Vladimir Putin tomorrow.
Merz said he raised the issue with Marco Rubio, Washington's top diplomat, while they attended the Pope's inaugural mass today.
He said he also spoke at length with Volodymyr ZelenAG百家乐在线官网y.
"I spoke with Marco Rubio, including about the call tomorrow," he told reporters.
"We agreed that we will speak again with the four state leaders and the US president in preparation of this conversation [with Putin]."
Earlier estimates this morning suggested 250,000 people could gather in and around the Vatican for the Pope's first mass.
The latest figure stands closer to 200,000, according to the Vatican's reckoning.
Thousands were in St Peter's Square, surrounding streets, parks and piazzas, where giant TV screens were set up, along with portable toilets.
In a brief appeal at the end of the mass, the Pope addressed several global conflicts.
He said Ukraine was being "martyred" - a phrase often used by predecessor Francis - and called for a "just and lasting peace".
He also mentioned the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where Israel has lately launched an escalation of its war.
Leo said people in the Palestinian enclave were being "reduced to starvation".
That followed similar messages in his first Sunday address, given one week ago.
Then, he addressed a packed St Peter's Square with a call for an "authentic and lasting peace" in Ukraine, a ceasefire in Gaza and release of all Israeli hostages.
Global conflict is likely to be an issue the Pope reflects on regularly in his public appearances.
Watch parts of his Sunday address last week in the clip below...
Authorities at the start of the morning estimated 250,000 could gather around the Vatican for the Pope's first mass.
St Peter's Square was full, as were nearby streets, for the roughly two-hour mass.
Here's a look back at this morning's events in picture form.
With the Pope now formally in place as the head of the Catholic Church, attentions now turn to how he will define his papacy.
We've just spoken with Sister Liz Dodd, from St Joseph of Peace, who told us she hopes he will continue the "progressive legacy" of Pope Francis, his predecessor.
Asked by our presenter Kamali Melbourne if there were any fears ahead of the new papacy, she said: "There was, I think, as a Catholic sister - as a Catholic - you have a very sort of intense relationship with what's going on in the papacy.
"And as somebody who really admired, took a lot from Pope Francis's progressive legacy, I think I hope that that would continue."
She added as a Catholic you wonder: "Am I going to spend the next 25 years sort of apologising for what the church is saying, or am I going to spend 25 years saying listen to the church, listen to the Pope on the environment, inclusion, migration, peacemaking?"
She said she is starting to think "it's going to be the latter", which is a "wonderful feeling".
On the role of women in the church, Dodd added Leo supported Francis's female appointments to very senior leadership roles.
"So, I think that's an indication that certainly women's leadership would be something that he will push on," she added.
The Pope is receiving a series of world leaders who were there for his inaugural mass this morning.
Among them was US vice president JD Vance, who in the past few minutes has greeted the Pope along with his wife, Usha Vance.
Shortly after Leo's election, a post on social media resurfaced of the Pope criticising Vance.
In early February, he shared an article from a Catholic publication with the headline, 'JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others'.
