New Pope live: Pope Leo XIV – American pontiff Robert Prevost holds first Mass amid claims he’s ‘anti-Trump’

Former US presidents have welcomed the news of the first American pope.

Joe Biden, a devout Catholic, said: “Habemus papam – May God bless Pope Leo XIV of Illinois.”

“Jill and I congratulate him and wish him success.”

Barack Obama said he and Michelle sent their congratulations to “a fellow Chicagoan”.

“This is a historic day for the United States, and we will pray for him as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church and setting an example for so many, regardless of faith,” he said.

Bill Clinton echoed that sentiment.

“His Holiness Pope Leo XIV spoke to billions—Catholics and non-Catholics alike—calling for unity and offering peace, a message the world needs now more than ever,” he said.

“As the first American to lead the Catholic Church, his election marks a historic moment. I join in wishing His Holiness many blessings.”

Earlier, in his first homily as Pope, Leo XIV lamented the fact that in many parts of the world, Christianity is “considered absurd,” or as something for weak and unintelligent people.

He also complained that in many places Jesus is misunderstood, “reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman.”

“This is true not only among non-believers but also among many baptised Christians, who thus end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism,” he said.

“Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed. A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.”

The cardinals applauded as the Mass concluded.

Leo was seen wearing simple black shoes, not the red loafers of the papacy preferred by some traditionalist popes.

The former cardinal Robert Prevost chose the name Leo as his papal name, becoming the 14th Pope to do so.

The choice has been fairly widely credited to the last Pope to hold that name, Pope Leo XIII, who headed the church from 1878 to 1903.

Leo XIII was known for his devoted focus on social justice issues, and is often credited with laying the foundation for modern Catholic social teaching.

Another Leo had one of the shortest pontificates in history. Pope Leo XI lasted from 1 April 1605 until his death on 27 April 1605.

Read more about the history of papal names here:

Leo XIV celebrated his first Mass in the Sistine Chapel with the same cardinals who elected him as Pope less than a day ago.

The former Cardinal Robert Prevost and the first American Pope wore white and gold vestments and looked serene as he said the Mass in the famous, frescoed chapel.

Leo XIV is leading his first mass as Pope.

While Pope Leo XIV delivered his homily in Italian, he began with some words in English.

Here are those remarks in full:

I begin with a word in English and the rest is in Italian, but I want to repeat the words from the responsorial Psalm: ‘I will sing a new song to the lrod because he has done marvels’.

And indeed, not just with me, but with all of us my brother cardinals, as we celebrate this morning I invite you to recognise the marvels that the Lord has done, the blessing the lord continues to pour out upon all of us.

Through the ministry of Peter, you have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission, and I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community of friends of Jesus as believers, to announce the good news, to announce the gospel.

Pope Leo XIV has begun his address in English.

He called on the gathered cardinals and the faithful watching to “recognise the marvels the Lord has done”.

“You have called me to carry that cross, to be blessed with that mission,” he said.

“I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community of friends of Jesus as believers, to announce the good news, to announce the gospel.”