LOOP POPE WATCH: Leo pontificate officially begins

SUNDAY, MAY 18 - POPE WATCH Editor's note: This is the final edition of our special Pope Watch series of LOOP newsletters, which began with the death of the late Pope Francis and now concludes on the day of Pope Leo XIV's inaugural Mass. Thank you for reading! POPE LEO XIV OFFICIALLY BEGINS PAPACY WITH INAUGURAL MASS  Pope Leo XIV formally began his pontificate May 18 with an inaugural Mass in St. Peter's Square, where he received the fisherman's ring and papal Pallium and preached on the importance of unity within the Church.  READ POPE CALLS ON FAITHFUL TO PRAY FOR VICTIMS OF WAR  At the end of his inaugural Mass today, the Pope gave a Regina Caeli address in which he spoke of Pope Francis and invoked Mary under her title "Star of the Sea," urging the faithful to pray to her for those suffering amid wars.  READ FIRST RIDE IN POPEMOBILE  An hour ahead of his inaugural Mass May 18, Pope Leo XIV took his first journey in the open-air popemobile through St. Peter's Square and its connecting road, to greet and bless thousands of faithful along the route.  WATCH CARDINAL BURKE: ASK OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE TO AID POPE  Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke today released a heartfelt statement calling Catholics to pray for the new Pope through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe. "Let us daily assist Pope Leo by asking Our Lady of Guadalupe to guide and protect him," Cardinal Burke wrote in part.  READ JD VANCE MEETS POPE LEO XIV  US Vice President JD Vance meets Pope Leo XIV at St. Peter's Basilica following the Pope's inaugural Mass. WATCH & SHARE Paid for by CatholicVote Civic Action, a 501(c)(4) organization. Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here. CATHOLICVOTE  |  PO Box 3310  |  Carmel, IN 46082  |  (317) 669-6127