Pope Leo XIV appears from the balcony at the Basilica of St. Mary Major to take possession of the last of the four major papal basilicas that completes the symbolic and liturgical “taking possession” of the four basilicas that signify full papal authority within Rome, in Rome, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

Pope Leo XIV presides over a Mass in the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran and takes possession of the Roman Cathedra, formalising his role as Bishop of Rome in Rome, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

A woman takes photos with her phone to Pope Leo XIV presides over a Mass in the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran and takes possession of the Roman Cathedra, formalising his role as Bishop of Rome in Rome, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Pope Leo XIV waves upon his arrival at the Arch Basilica of St. John Lateran where he will presides over a Mass and takes possession of the Roman Cathedra, formalising his role as Bishop of Rome, in Rome, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Leo XIV is greeted by Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri at the foot of Capitoline Hill, in Rome, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

Pope Leo XIV declared himself a Roman on Sunday as he completed the final ceremonial steps cementing his role as the bishop of Rome.

The first American pope formally took possession of the St. John Lateran Basilica, which is Rome’s cathedral and seat of the diocese, with an evening Mass attended by Roman priests and faithful.

He then took the popemobile for a visit to St. Mary Major, where he prayed before Pope Francis’ tomb and an icon of the Virgin Mary beloved to many Roman faithful.

In his homily, Leo said he wanted to listen to them “in order to learn, understand and decide things together.”

One of the many titles that Leo assumed when he was elected May 8 was bishop of Rome. Given his responsibilities running the 1.4-billion strong universal Catholic Church, popes delegate the day-to-day governance of running of the diocese of Roman to a vicar.

Sunday’s ceremonies at the St. John Lateran and a stop at St. Mary Major basilicas follow Leo’s visit last week to the St. Paul Outside the Walls basilica. Together with St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, the four papal basilicas are the most important basilicas in the West.

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Rome’s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri welcomed Leo first at the steps to City Hall, noting that his May 8 election fell during a Holy Year, an event occurring every 25 years to invite pilgrims to Rome. The city underwent two years of traffic-clogging public works projects to prepare and expects to welcome upward of 30 million people in 2025.

Leo said he felt the “serious but passionate responsibility” to serve all Romans during the Holy Year and beyond.

Wearing his formal red papal cape and brocaded stole, Leo recalled the words he had uttered from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on the night of his election. The Augustinian pope quoted St. Augustine in saying: “With you I am Christian, and for you, bishop.”

“By special title, today I can say that for you and with you I am Roman!” Leo said.

The former Robert Prevost succeeded Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope. Francis died April 21 and is buried at St. Mary Major, near the icon of the Madonna known as the Salus Populi Romani.

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ESPAÑOL:

El papa León XIV declara: “¡Soy romano!”, al completar formalidades como obispo de Roma

ROMA (AP) — El papa León XIV se declaró romano el domingo al completar los pasos ceremoniales finales que consolidan su papel como obispo de Roma.

El primer papa estadounidense tomó formalmente posesión de la Basílica de San Juan de Letrán, que es la catedral de Roma y sede de la diócesis, con una misa vespertina a la que asistieron sacerdotes y fieles romanos.

Luego tomó el papamóvil para visitar la Basílica de Santa María la Mayor, donde rezó ante la tumba del papa Francisco y un icono de la Virgen María querido por muchos fieles romanos.

En su homilía, León XIV expresó su deseo de escucharlos “para aprender, comprender y decidir cosas juntos”.

Uno de los muchos títulos que León XIV asumió cuando fue elegido el 8 de mayo fue el de obispo de Roma. Dadas sus responsabilidades al dirigir la Iglesia católica de 1.400 millones de fieles, los papas delegan a un vicario las tareas del día a día de la diócesis de Roma.

La semana pasada, el papa acudió a la Basílica de San Pablo Extramuros. Esta basílica, las dos que visitó el domingo, y la de Basílica de San Pedro en el Vaticano, son las cuatro basílicas papales más importantes de Occidente.

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El alcalde de Roma, Roberto Gualtieri, dio la bienvenida a León en los escalones del Ayuntamiento, señalando que su elección el 8 de mayo ocurrió durante un Año Santo, un evento que se celebra cada 25 años para invitar a los peregrinos a Roma. La ciudad atravesó dos años de obras públicas que congestionaron el tráfico para prepararse y espera recibir a más de 30 millones de personas en 2025.

León XIV manifestó sentir la “responsabilidad seria pero apasionada” de servir a todos los romanos durante el Año Santo y más allá.

Vestido con su capa papal roja formal y estola bordada, León XIV recordó las palabras que pronunció desde la logia de la Basílica de San Pedro la noche de su elección. El papa agustino citó a San Agustín al decir: “Con ustedes soy cristiano, y por ustedes, obispo”.

“¡Por título especial, hoy puedo decir que para ustedes y con ustedes soy romano!”, afirmó.

El antes cardenal Robert Prevost reemplazó al papa Francisco, el primer pontífice latinoamericano. Francisco murió el 21 de abril y está enterrado en Santa María la Mayor, cerca del icono de la Madonna, conocido como Salus Populi Romani.

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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.