Pope Leo has greeted his followers in St Peter's Square. Credit: David Ramos / Getty
Pope Leo XIV made his grand entrance in St. Peter’s Square for his inaugural mass — but something stood out.
He broke from tradition by stepping down from the popemobile to greet worshippers directly.
The moment, though brief, marked a sharp departure from recent security norms.
Pope Leo XIV arrived at 8:15 AM, waving from an open-top popemobile and thrilling thousands.
The crowd erupted as he rode by, breaking into cheers.
Though iconic, the popemobile serves a key role in papal security — not just appearances.
The tradition started in 1930 when Mercedes-Benz gifted Pope Pius XI a Nürburg 460 Pullman.
It featured silk carpeting and doves painted on the outside, blending elegance with symbolism.
The term “popemobile” became popular in the 1970s and since then, it symbolized both visibility and protection.
There’s a serious reason behind this.
In 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot twice in St. Peter’s Square by Mehmet Ali Agca during a public greeting, according to History.com.
He survived, but the attack shocked the world and led to bulletproof upgrades for the popemobile.
Though the Vatican provides high-security vehicles, Pope Leo and Pope Francis have chosen to ride openly, per Sky News.
As Pope Leo rode across St. Peter’s Square, the vehicle stopped so he could bless babies from the crowd.
If the open-top popemobile didn’t mark him as a rule-breaker, his first mass did.
The Vatican crowd was surprised when he spoke and sang in English, with a distinct Chicago accent.
This was the first time English opened a papal homily at such a symbolic event, especially the first mass in the Sistine Chapel after the May 9 conclave.
Inside the basilica, Leo received two key symbols of papal authority.
First was the Fisherman’s Ring, honoring Saint Peter — the original pope and fisherman.
The ring symbolizes papal duty and is unique to each pope.
Next came the pallium, a white lambswool strip draped over the shoulders.
This ancient garment symbolizes the pope’s role as shepherd to his global flock.
It is traditionally placed before Mass begins.
Pope Leo then delivered his homily to the public, setting the tone for his papacy and key leadership themes.
According to the Telegraph, about 250,000 people gathered at the Vatican to see the new pontiff.
Donald Trump did not attend the inauguration, but JD Vance was there.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, also attended.
Zelenskyy last saw Vance during a fiery exchange at the White House.
