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The mass, held in Saint Peter’s Square, drew more than 200,000 pilgrims, leaders from around the world, and representatives of Christian denominations, including WCC central committee moderator Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm and WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay.
Religious delegations included Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Zoroastrian, and Jainists, among the many present for the celebration.
Expressing his heartfelt gratitude for the prayerful and joyful support offered to him as he begins his pastoral ministry as pope, Leo XIV recalled the intense emotions experienced over these past few weeks.
"Following the death of Pope Francis, we felt like sheep without a shepherd," he recalled, "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.”
The pope also thanked everyone for accompanying in prayer the College of Cardinals meeting in conclave.
He said they felt “the working of the Holy Spirit, who was able to bring us into harmony, like musical instruments, so that our heartstrings could vibrate in a single melody.”
Pope Leo expressed his hope for "a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world.”
In the face of a world marked by so much discord and wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, fear, and economic reality “that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest,” Pope Leo said, “we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion, and fraternity within the world.”
In the one Christ, we are one, reflected the pope.
"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 good will, in order to build a new world where peace reigns!”
The Pope upheld the missionary spirit, adding that such an approach will keep the church from closing itself off in small groups or taking on a feeling of superiority to the world.
“We are called to offer God’s love to everyone, in order to achieve that unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people," he said. “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.”
In conclusion, Pope Leo XIV invited all Christians to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit. “Together, as one people, as brothers and sisters, let us walk towards God and love one another,” he said.
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WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay and Pope Leo XIV.
© Vatican Media
Resonating with the WCC
Bedford-Strohm said he saw encouraging signs for ecumenical progress during his visit to Rome.
“In his private audience with us as representatives of churches and religions, he named as one of his priorities seeking the re-establishment of full and visible communion among all those who profess the same faith in the triune God,” said Bedford-Strohm. “It is also a great sign of hope for me that Pope Leo has so closely linked synodality and ecumenism to each other and that he wants to continue Pope Francis’ commitment to promoting the synodal nature of the Catholic Church and developing new and concrete forms for an ever-stronger synodality in ecumenical relations.”
Bedford-Strohm also recalled the theme of the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe in 2022: “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity.”
Bedford-Strohm added that he believes churches can give a witness of unity for this divided world. “I wholeheartedly join Pope Leo in saying that if we are in agreement, and free from ideological and political conditioning, we can be effective in saying ‘no’ to war and ‘yes’ to peace, ‘no’ to the arms race and ‘yes’ to disarmament, ‘no’ to an economy that impoverishes peoples and the Earth and ‘yes’ to integral development.”
Pillay described a wonderful encounter with Pope Leo. “I was very impressed with his address focussing on Christian unity and his commitment to visible unity of churches and his call for us to work together,” said Pillay. “His added emphasis on peace, inter-religious dialogue, human fraternity, and endeavour to grow hope in the world are all points critical for our world today, considering our current challenges. I said to Pope Leo that his vision and foci resonate well and are supported by the WCC, and that we look forward to working with him on these matters.“
In Pope Leo’s address to representative of other churches, ecclesial communities, and other religions, he expressed great joy and cordial greetings.
“While we are on the journey to re-establishing full communion among all Christians, we recognise that this unity can only be unity in faith,” said Pope Leo. “As Bishop of Rome, I consider one of my priorities to be that of seeking the re-establishment of full and visible communion among all those who profess the same faith in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
WCC congratulates Pope Leo XIV (WCC news release, 08 May 2025)
WCC leaders will attend inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV (WCC news release, 15 May 2025)
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WCC central committee moderator Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm and Pope Leo XIV.
© Vatican Media
