Pope Leo XIV formally assumed his role as the first American-born leader of the global Catholic Church with a Mass in St. Peter's Square in Rome drawing tens of thousands of people, including dozens of world leaders and European royalty.
As the Mass opened, the Chicago-born pope said in Italian, "Peace be with you and your spirits." He later said the church must confront modern challenges while maintaining its traditions, and rejected what he called "religious propaganda" and the misuse of power.
Leo reached out to conservatives who felt orphaned under his predecessor, vowing to preserve the Catholic Church's heritage and not rule like "an autocrat."
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