IN PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV, the new Bishop of Rome

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Pope Leo XIV, the new Bishop of Rome

BISHOP OF ROME. Pope Leo XIV stands at the balcony of Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano (Basilica of Saint John Lateran) after celebrating Mass, in Rome, Italy, May 25, 2025.

Vincenzo Livieri/Reuters

‘Today I can say that for you and with you, I am Roman!’ says Pope Leo XIV, the first US-born pope, to the Diocese of Rome

MANILA, Philippines – From being welcomed by the mayor of Rome to taking possession of his Roman cathedral, Pope Leo XIV formalized his role as Bishop of Rome on Sunday, May 25.

“Today I can say that for you and with you, I am Roman!” declared Leo, the first US-born pope, as he was formally welcomed by Mayor Roberto Gualtieri of Rome.

On Sunday, Leo took possession of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, his cathedral or “seat” as a bishop, and visited the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where his predecessor Pope Francis is buried.

“Bishop of Rome” is one of the titles associated with the papacy, along with “Supreme Pontiff” and “Vicar of Christ,” as the city of Rome is believed to be the burial place of Saint Peter, the first pope.

“For two millennia, the Church has carried out her apostolate in Rome, proclaiming the Gospel of Christ and dedicating herself to works of charity,” Leo said during his meeting with Gualtieri.

“Educating the young, caring for those who suffer, serving the least among us, and fostering the arts are all expressions of that care for human dignity which we must always uphold, especially toward the little ones, the weak, and the poor,” the Pope said.

During the Mass at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, Leo pointed out that the Diocese of Rome has embarked on “the challenging process of listening” through the years: “listening to the world around us to respond to its challenges, and listening within our communities to understand needs and to propose sage and prophetic initiatives of evangelization and charity.”

“For my part, I would like to express my firm desire to contribute to this great ongoing process by listening to everyone as much as possible, in order to learn, understand and decide things together, as Saint Augustine would say, ‘as a Christian with you and a bishop for you,’” said Leo, the first pontiff from the Order of Saint Augustine.

“I too offer you ‘the little I have and am,’ entrusting it to the intercession of Saints Peter and Paul and of all those other brothers and sisters of ours whose holiness has illuminated the history of this Church and the streets of this city,” Leo said.