Pope Leo XIV embraces Roman identity in historic ceremony

Pope Leo XIV officially declared himself a Roman on Sunday as he completed the final rites affirming his position as Bishop of Rome. In a deeply symbolic moment, the first American pope presided over evening Mass at the Basilica of St. John Lateran—Rome’s cathedral and the ecclesiastical heart of the Diocese of Rome—before a gathering of local clergy and laity.

Following the Mass, Pope Leo boarded the popemobile and visited the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. There, he offered prayers at the tomb of Pope Francis and before the beloved Marian icon Salus Populi Romani. During his homily, Leo emphasized his desire to “listen, learn, understand, and make decisions together” with the Roman faithful.

Though the pope oversees the global Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion members, he traditionally entrusts the daily operations of the Roman diocese to a vicar. Sunday’s events, including last week’s visit to St. Paul Outside the Walls, mark the completion of Leo’s pilgrimage to the four major papal basilicas of the West.

Welcoming him at the Capitoline Hill earlier, Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri noted the significance of Leo’s May 8 election during a Holy Year. The city, after years of preparation, expects to host up to 30 million pilgrims in 2025.

Donning his red papal cape and ornate stole, Pope Leo recalled St. Augustine’s words: “With you I am Christian, for you, bishop.” He concluded with a heartfelt proclamation: “Today, I can say—by special title—I am Roman.”

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