Pope Leo XIV declares ‘I am Roman!’ as he completes formalities to become bishop of Rome

ROME AP Pope Leo XIV declared himself a Roman on Sunday as he completed the final ceremonial attempts 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 multiple Roman faithful In his homily Leo revealed he wished to listen to them in order to learn understand and decide things together One of the various titles that Leo assumed when he was elected May was bishop of Rome Given his responsibilities running the -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 of critical basilicas in the West Rome s Mayor Roberto Gualtieri welcomed Leo first at the initiatives to City Hall noting that his May voting fell during a Holy Year an event occurring every years to invite pilgrims to Rome The city underwent two years of traffic-clogging residents works projects to prepare and expects to welcome upward of million people in Leo noted 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 electoral process The Augustinian pope quoted St Augustine in saying With you I am Christian and for you bishop By special title at present I can say that for you and with you I am Roman Leo revealed The former Robert Prevost succeeded Pope Francis the first Latin American pope Francis died April and is buried at St Mary Major near the icon of the Madonna known as the Salus Populi Romani Associated Press religion coverage receives aid through the AP s collaboration with The Conversation US with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc The AP is solely responsible for this content Source