Pope Leo XIV has celebrated his first Mass at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran on Sunday, after he was formally installed in the Episcopal See of Rome.
The Basilica of Saint John Lateran is the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome.
Just a few hours earlier, the Holy Father had stopped at Rome's Capitoline Hill, the seat of the city’s civic and democratic administration, to meet with Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri.
In his homily, Pope Leo XIV emphasised the importance of the Diocese of Rome within the universal Church.
“Rome is the heir to a great history, grounded in the witness of Peter, of Paul, and of countless martyrs, and it has a unique mission, perfectly expressed by what is written on the façade of this cathedral: to be Mater ómnium Ecclesiarum, the Mother of all Churches,” he said.
“Pope Francis frequently encouraged us to reflect on the maternal dimension of the Church her defining qualities of tenderness, self-sacrifice and the capacity to listen. Those qualities enable her not only to assist others but often to anticipate their needs and expectations before they are even expressed.
“We hope that those qualities will be increasingly present in the people of God everywhere, including here, in our great diocesan family: in the faithful, in pastors, and, first of all, in myself. The readings we have heard can help us to reflect on these qualities.”
When meeting with the Mayor of Rome earlier in the day, Pope Leo XIV had also expressed the importance of the Eternal City.
“Rome will always be distinguished by those values of humanity and civilization that draw their lifeblood from the Gospel,” he said.
“Today I can say that for you and with you I am Roman!” he added, paraphrasing Saint Augustine.
While the Pope serves as the Bishop of Rome, most of the day-to-day work of leading the diocese is delegated to the cardinal vicar, who assures direct episcopal oversight of the diocese's pastoral needs, in the name of the Pope.
The current Cardinal Vicar is Cardinal Baldassare Reina.