Vatican releases official schedule for Pope Leo XIV’s first days

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV will be inaugurated Sunday, May 18, the fifth Sunday of Easter, as part of a busy schedule announced Friday, May 9 by the Vatican Press Office.

Pope Leo’s immediate appointments, occurring this weekend, include a meeting with cardinals Saturday, May 10, followed by the Regina Caeli prayer from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, May 11.

The Pontiff will meet with worldwide news media on Monday, May 12. Later in the week, he begins a series of first formal engagements, beginning Friday, May 16 with a reception of diplomatic corps (heads of mission). His Inaugural Mass follows that Sunday, at which time Pope Leo will receive the fisherman’s ring and the pallium as symbols of his papal office.

Two days later, on Tuesday, May 20, he will take possession of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

Pope Leo will hold his first general audience Wednesday, May 21, and then on Saturday, May 24 will meet with the Roman Curia and with employees of the Vatican City State.

Next, on Sunday, May 25, Pope Leo will lead in the Regina Caeli prayer followed by taking possession of two other papal basilicas. These are the Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran, which is the pope’s cathedral as the Bishop of Rome, and the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major.