On Sunday, 18th of May, the inauguration mass of Pope Leo XIV, marking the start of his pontificate and Petrine Ministry, was held in Saint Peter’s Square, with the conferral of the Pallium and the Ring of the Fisherman.
Queen of Spain, Queen of Belgium, Grand Duchess Maria of Luxembourg, and Princess of Monaco are exercising their Privilège du Blanc at the inauguration Mass.
The Privilège du Blanc is a special Papal Privilege that allows certain Catholic Queens and Consorts to wear white when in the presence of the Pope at the Vatican.
It is believed the privilege was first granted to Isabella of Castile (1451–1504), in recognition of her role in the Reconquista and her steadfast defense of the Catholic faith. Isabella of Castile gave the money to build the Tempieto to mark the spot that Peter was put on the cross. The architect Bramante was then put in charge of the new design of what is St Peters today.
The morning Mass began with his first popemobile ride through St. Peter’s Square.
He then entered St. Peter’s Basilica and proceeded to the tomb of St. Peter, where, joined by the patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic churches, he paused for prayer.
Pope Leo and Patriarchs of the Eastern Churches in prayer before St. Peter’s tomb.
The symbols of the papal office — the pallium, the fisherman’s ring and the Book of the Gospels — will have been placed there in advance, close to the remains of the apostle whose faith and martyrdom consecrated the church of Rome.
Deacons then carry the objects into the square as part of the procession.
After the proclamation of the Gospel and before the pope’s homily are the formal rites of installation, which took place in full view of the gathered faithful.
The rites included the imposition of the pallium, conferred by a cardinal deacon, and the presentation of the fisherman’s ring, given to the new pope by a cardinal bishop. A third cardinal, from the order of cardinal priests, will offer a solemn prayer invoking the Holy Spirit’s strength for the pope’s mission.
The moment he received the Fisherman’s Ring or Piscatory Ring, from Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. The ring is a sacred sign of his succession to the Apostle Peter, during the Mass of Inauguration of his pontificate .
It is truly moving how Pope Leo XIV looked at the Fisherman’s ring and got visibly emotional for a moment.
The Ring of the Fisherman of Pope Leo XIV.
It features St. Peter on the front and Leo’s coat of arms on the back, with his name inscribed.
A profoundly powerful symbol, portraying the Pope as a fisher of souls
It will serve as his seal throughout the entire pontificate and will be destroyed only at its conclusion.
See my post HERE on how all vocations (marriage, religious life, consecrated single life) are marked with a ring, presented as special vows are made before God and a priest, with witnesses present and at a special Mass.
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Royalty at the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican – The Catholic Sovereigns of Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco and Liechtenstein led Royal Guests and Dignitaries.
Remember what I always say: the hierarchy is always the people, followed by monarchs, and then the pope. This is because the people answer to the monarchy, the only system of government instituted by God and acknowledged by the Church, and the monarchy answers to the Church (ie the Pope) because it is the Church that crowns the monarch, even though monarchy is passed down by birthright, and the Church (pope) answers to God. So even the monarchy is higher in status than other government leaders, such as presidents and so on. That is power and birthright that God has placed on the monarchy.
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View my articles on how monarchy is intertwined with the Church HERE.
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Pope Leo emerges wearing a vestment worn by both Benedict and Francis, and carrying a crozier used first by Paul VI, and Benedict and Francis as well.
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Pope Leo XIV in his homily for the inauguration mass: “I was chosen, without any merit of my own, and now, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother, who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy…”
Pope Leo XIV also entrusted his Papacy to Our Lady at his Inauguration Mass saying “Therefore, as we entrust to Mary the service of the Bishop of Rome, Pastor of the universal Church, let us, from the “Barque of Peter,” look to her, Star of the Sea, Our Lady of Good Counsel, as a sign of hope. We implore her intercession for the gift of peace, for support and comfort for those who suffer, and for the grace for all of us to be witnesses to the Risen Lord.”
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After the liturgy, Pope Leo XIV returns inside the basilica to greet the heads of state and religious delegations assembled for the occasion. This greeting, conducted in the nave of the basilica in front of the Altar of the Confession, is not part of the liturgy but is an act of diplomatic and ecumenical respect. Almost 200 world leaders and royalty were in attendance; you see the full list HERE
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After his inauguration Mass, Pope Leo XIV met royals.
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Below are: King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, and Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco. These Catholic royal women, as mentioned above, are exercising their Priviliege Du Blanc – privilege of white.
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Also, below are: Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh for Great Britain, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Hereditary Prince Alois and Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein, and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. As you can see, the royal women in the set below do not have the Privilege Du Blanc because they are not Catholic monarchs.
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In private audience with US Vice President James David (J.D.) Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and their wives.
As you can see, the wives here are veiled, which is respect for the Pope, who is the Vicar of Christ. However, as they do not have the Catholic privilege of white, as described above, they have to wear black because they are not Catholic royal women. It has nothing whatsoever to do with their marital status – as some people erroneously want to say that married women must wear black, and everything to do with Catholic culture, NOT secular culture
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Several heads of state were also in attendance. Full list of heads of states from around the world HERE.
On behalf of the UAE President, HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr attended the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV
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Such a beautiful Mass for the rite of inauguration for Pope Leo XIV.
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Ad multos annos Papa Leone!
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Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us, for the Church and for Pope Leo XIV
Traditional Catholic Femininity 🌹🙏🌹 
Wonderful article. I was unaware of the Privilege du Blanc. But why is Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg not veiled?
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I’m not sure why. Maybe she forgot it?
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