Vatican has set the date for the enthronement of the new Pope

The solemn ceremony of the enthronement of Pope Leo XIV is scheduled for May 18.

This is officially reported by the Vatican press service.

According to the published calendar, the newly elected pontiff will officially ascend to the papal throne with a solemn Mass in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. Before this significant event, Leo XIV will hold a series of important audiences with representatives of the diplomatic corps, as well as meet with international journalists who covered the recent events in the Holy See. After the death of Pope Francis on April 21, the Vatican press service, according to preliminary data, received an unprecedented number of accreditation requests - more than 4 thousand.

Following centuries-old tradition, the enthronement ceremony is expected to be attended by high-ranking delegations from around the world, including heads of state, governments, and religious leaders.

On May 8, the cardinal electors elected 69-year-old American Robert Francis Prevost as the new Pope, who took the name Leo XIV. This is truly a historic event - he became the 267th pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church and the first Pope originating from the United States of America. The conclave determined the choice of the new head of the Church within just two days, which indicates a high level of consensus among the cardinals.

In his first sermon on May 9, Pope Leo XIV outlined the theological emphases of his pontificate, stating that viewing Jesus Christ merely as a charismatic leader or superman is equivalent to atheism.

"And today, Jesus, although valued as a human, is often considered just some charismatic leader or superman, not only among non-believers but also among many baptized people who ultimately live in practical atheism," the pontiff emphasized.

According to the new head of the Catholic Church, in the modern world, true faith is often "replaced by other securities, such as technology, money, success, power, and pleasure."

"Often Christian faith is considered something absurd by people who are weak and not very intelligent," added Leo XIV, identifying one of the key problems of modern society.

The biography of the new Pope is quite remarkable. Robert Prevost was born and raised in Chicago, however, interestingly, he hardly uses English in everyday communication, preferring Spanish and Italian. According to Sky News, the new pontiff is a true polyglot, fluent in five to six languages, reflecting his rich international experience.

In September 2023, Prevost was elevated to the rank of cardinal - first as a cardinal-deacon with the titular diaconia of Santa Monica, and then became cardinal-bishop of Albano. He devoted a significant part of his church ministry - several decades - to teaching and pastoral activities in Peru, and later established himself as an effective administrator, successfully managing problematic dioceses and demonstrating outstanding leadership qualities.