Today's Edition
(AGENCIES)
Pope Leo XIV, the first US pope, will be officially inaugurated as head of the Catholic Church with a solemn Mass on Sunday.
On behalf of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, will attend the inauguration ceremony.
The Mass will also see the presence of US Vice President JD Vance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and others.
Tens of thousands of worshippers are expected to attend the Mass in front of St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, along with several thousand security personnel.Peru's President Dina Boluarte is also set to attend. Pope Leo, 69, a former cardinal from Chicago, previously worked as a missionary in the South American country, and also holds Peruvian citizenship.
The new pontiff, whose birth name is Robert Francis Prevost, will also receive the so-called Fisherman's Ring on Sunday. The ring features an engraving of the Apostle Peter fishing, symbolising Jesus' words that he would make Peter a "fisher of men."
Leo, leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, is also expected to ride across St Peter's Square for the first time in the specially designed popemobile, and to pray at Peter's tomb inside St Peter's Basilica.
