Cardinal Tagle Leads Ring Ceremony During Pope Leo XIV Inauguration in Rome

Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, was officially inaugurated as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church in a Mass attended by world leaders including U.S. officials and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle played a historic role in the ceremony, presenting the symbolic Ring of the Fisherman and sharing personal reflections on Pope Leo's election, which was marked by joy and solemnity. Pope Leo XIV used his inaugural address to condemn greed and materialism, calling for peace and proposing the Vatican as a neutral site for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. The Mass was rich in symbolism, including the bestowing of the pallium and the use of the popemobile for the first time by the new pope. The inauguration drew significant global attention with delegates from over 150 countries and large pilgrim attendance, highlighting Pope Leo's global mission and pastoral care. Both Pope Leo and Cardinal Tagle emphasized humility, careful decision-making, and the need for unity within the Church and the world.