Chicago Tribune photographer Brian Cassella captures the scene as Pope Leo XIV is installed in Vatican City.
Global dignitaries and faith leaders from around the world gathered in Vatican City on Sunday as Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV presided over his installation Mass, officially marking the beginning of his ministry as the 267th pontiff.
Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Maria Shriver, Rev. Manuel Dorantes of Chicago and a group carrying a Chicago flag, being held by Leo Karmanos, as they watch Pope Leo XIV arrive for his installation Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Crowds pack St. Peter’s Square as Pope Leo XIV is installed during a Mass on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowds as he arrives for his installation Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowds as he arrives for his installation Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Cardinal Blase Cupich, third from left, arrives with the other cardinals as Pope Leo XIV is installed during Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Pope Leo XIV begins his installation Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Pope Leo XIV is installed during Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Priests watch from a window as Pope Leo XIV arrives for his installation Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
People in wheelchairs are moved to the front as Pope Leo XIV is installed Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Members of the clergy pray as Pope Leo XIV is installed during Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Members of the clergy carry incense as Pope Leo XIV is installed during Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Pope Leo XIV sprinkles holy water during his installation Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Pope Leo XIV receives the pallium as he’s installed during Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Pope Leo XIV receives the fisherman’s ring from Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle during his installation Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Pope Leo XIV reacts after receiving the fisherman’s ring during his installation Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Members of the clergy pray as Pope Leo XIV is installed during Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The brother of Pope XIV, Louis Prevost, far left, kneels in prayer along with front of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, second row left, and next to second lady Usha Vance, and her husband Vice President J.D. Vance, as Pope Leo XIV is installed during Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Pope Leo XIV acknowledges a Chicago flag in the crowd, waved by Leo Karmanos, as he arrives for his installation Mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Pope Leo XIV is installed during Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Members of the clergy pray as Pope Leo XIV is installed during Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Crowds watch as Pope Leo XIV is installed during Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
A woman with an American flag watches the screens after Pope Leo XIV is installed during Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Pope Leo XIV continues to greet people inside the basilica as the crowd watches on screens after installation Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Nuns pick up newspapers featuring Pope Leo XIV after his installation Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Bells ring on St. Peter’s Basilica to conclude Pope Leo XIV’s installation Mass on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Attendees pick up newspapers featuring Pope Leo XIV after his installation Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Nuns arrive before dawn to see Pope Leo XIV installed during Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Security officers arrive before dawn in St. Peter’s Square s Pope Leo XIV is installed during Mass on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
People sleep on the street before dawn while waiting to enter St. Peter’s Square to see Pope Leo XIV installed during Mass on May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
St. Peter’s Square is prepared before dawn for the installation Mass of Pope Leo XIV on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Augustinian friars, from left, Brother David Relstab, Rev. Jack Tierney and Rev. Joe Roccasalva visit St. Peter’s Square after their arrival in Rome on May 17, 2025, before the installation of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. Relstab is a teacher at Providence Catholic in New Lenox, Tierney is a former teacher at St. Rita in Chicago and Roccasalva grew up in Beverly and attended Marian Catholic. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
People walk down Via della Conciliazione near St. Peter’s Square on May 17, 2025, before the installation of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
A photo of Pope Leo XIV is displayed on a souvenir stand next to St. Peter’s Square on May 17, 2025, before his installation Sunday at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Nuns join a procession to St. Peter’s Square as part of the Jubilee celebration, May 16, 2025, before the installation of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
People visit St. Peter’s Square on Friday, May 16, 2025, before the installation of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Souvenir shops sell more items depicting Pope Francis and Pope John Paul II before items with the new Pope Leo XIV have arrived Friday, May 16, 2025, near St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
A Mona Lisa poster on May 16, 2025, near St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
A newsstand shows covers featuring Pope Leo XIV and Pope Francis on May 16, 2025, near St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The moon above St. Peter’s Basilica on May 16, 2025, before the installation of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Tourists line up to enter the Vatican Museums on May 16, 2025, before the installation of Pope Leo XIV. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Carabinieri officers and a priest pass through St. Peter’s Square on May 16, 2025, before the installation of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
People talk outside the Aug.inian General Casio next to St. Peter’s Square on Friday, May 16, 2025, before the installation of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Two men recite prayers at sunrise in St. Peter’s Square on May 16, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
People visit St. Peter’s Basilica on May 15, 2025, before the installation of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
A visitor takes in St. Peter’s Square as dusk falls, May 15, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
People visit a 2019 statue called Angels Unawares depicting 140 migrants throughout history in St. Peter’s Square on May 15, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
A group carries a cross as part of the Jubilee through St. Peter’s Square on May 15, 2025, before the installation of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
A woman holds a picture of Pope Leo XIV while visiting St. Peter’s Basilica on May 15, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Priests walk by St. Peter’s Square on Thursday, May 15, 2025, before the installation of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Strollers outside St. Peter’s Basilica on May 15, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Italian Carabinieri direct tourists around St. Peter’s Square on May 15, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
People visit St. Peter’s Square on Thursday, May 15, 2025, before the installation of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
People visit St. Peter’s Basilica on May 15, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
The sun sets on St. Peter’s Basilica on May 15, 2025, before the installation of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Originally Published: May 20, 2025 at 2:59 AM CDT