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Pope Leo XIV Celebrates Mass In Sistine Chapel. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired May 09, 2025 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:31]
ERIN BURNETT, CNN ANCHOR: Hello to everyone watching from around the world, and a good morning from Rome.
I'm Erin Burnett coming to you live here from Vatican City where we have been closely following the first election or the first election of a first American pope, along with all the suspense that led up to the stunning and shocking announcement to the world and all the pageantry that has since followed.
So, just show you what's happen every moment where we are, this is going to be the first mass led by the new pope, Leo XIV. These images are here in Vatican City, inside the Sistine chapel, where that very special first mass will begin.
You can see all of the cardinals there. They are ready. This is the moment, the first mass being led by, of course, now, Leo XIV, formerly Roberto Prevost, the cardinal of Chicago.
St. Peter's Square is filling up with people who are eager to witness this. So many, you know, just kind of a constant flow, a hum of people. Some of them are tourists, some of them are Romans. Many of them are Catholics who are here to celebrate, to see such a profound moment for -- for the world, and also, of course, for this history that has been made.
So, as we prepare for this mass and the stunning election of Pope Leo XIV, to just think about the significance of this mass, our Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb joins me here, as well as Father Patrick Mary Briscoe, and our senior international correspondent, Ben Wedeman. Ben was in the square yesterday as this happened.
Christopher, you and I were here when we realized very, very quickly that that smoke was white. But even at that time, with that anticipation, which was a feeling of anticipation for -- for anyone present, we had no idea what was to come. And that was the true surprise.
I'll always remember the look on your face, the sort of, oh, your eyes almost popped out of your head when you, you know, it is an American, is American pope.
History has been made. And even inside that Sistine Chapel, so many of those cardinals as well learn how this played out, they were stunned themselves that this went in this direction so quickly.
CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And I think when the white smoke went up yesterday, I think a lot of people thought that one of the frontrunners, Cardinal Parolin, possibly had been elected. And then to hear the news that it was Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost, Chicago born, the first American pope really was stunning.
And I think what obviously had happened is the cardinals had coalesced very quickly around him as a candidate. He is a respected figure in the Vatican and is known to a number of cardinals in his role as in charge of the bishops office -- bishops appointment office. He knows a lot about what goes on in the global Catholic Church. He's been involved in appointing bishops and also dealing with problems, so they knew him very well.
BURNETT: And, Father Patrick, and yet it is because of this happened, the last two popes also happened on the second day, right? So, there was precedent for this, but we had heard, you know, they had to wear name tags. They didn't all know each other.
If it happened that quickly, which it very well might have. It was most likely to be the very well-known Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Parolin, right? So, if it was fast, it was most likely that way.
FR. PATRICK MARY BRISCOE, EDITOR, OUR SUNDAY VISITOR: Absolutely.
BURNETT: So when the smoke came, that was the expectation.
BRISCOE: That's what everyone was thinking. I heard his name and I heard it clearly, but I had to turn to someone to confirm it because I was in such -- such a state of shock.
BURNETT: Say Roberto.
BRISCOE: I couldn't believe it. You know, down below in the square, one of my favorite moments, one of my favorite memories was there was a group of Spanish speaking pilgrims that were singing the soccer chant. They were singing ole, ole, ole. And then after Pope Leo was announced, they began singing the chant again, but this time singing Leo, Leo, Leo.
BURNETT: It just switched, right, right.
BRISCOE: Right away.
BURNETT: And they could hear it. And because of -- in that moment, I do remember when Roberto, Roberto, right? Because they don't say Robert Francis Prevost. No, it's Roberto, right?
I mean, its, and then to realize that that indeed was who it was and, you know, we'll see what we find out about him and how he felt that moment.
LAMB: Yes. BURNETT: But certainly coming into that conclave, he would have known
people were talking about him. He was certainly. But he wouldn't have expected it either.
LAMB: No, I don't think so. I mean, yeah, of course, cardinals are aware of what is being discussed and the possibility that they are being looked at. But I think it's only when you get into the Sistine Chapel and you hear your name being said --
[05:05:01]
BURNETT: If you're getting votes.
LAMB: If you are getting votes, and that -- I think that's when -- that's when it sinks in and hits home.
BURNETT: Yes. So, Father Patrick, this morning, this mass, as we are looking at these images of the Sistine Chapel, those cardinals in there now, no doubt thinking of the history that they made yesterday in that -- in that sacred space. And now they are back for the first mass led by their new leader.
You know, what is the significance of a mass like this? A man who, until yesterday was among them, was with them. And now, of course, is the supreme pontiff.
BRISCOE: I think it's fair, certainly, to call the Sistine Chapel the most famous chapel in the world.
BURNETT: Yeah.
BRISCOE: You know, chapel is almost a bit of a misnomer because the space is so magnificent, isn't it? And surely, I think one of the things that all the cardinals will be looking to see is the way that Pope Leo carries himself. Theres a thing that we often talk about with priests and bishops called the ars celebrandi. The way a man celebrates mass.
And a remarkable thing often happens when a man is elected pope, that he begins to carry himself with the office, that there's a kind of change that happens almost immediately. Certainly that was said about Pope Francis. People were wondering what happened to Cardinal Bergoglio because he was known for being a more stern or a quieter figure, you know, gentle, always. But there was really a change that kind of took over.
And I'm wondering if we might begin to see some of that here today in the Sistine Chapel. Pope Francis gave us a little hint, didn't he, when he said this mass at the beginning of his pontificate, he preached about journeying and building and professing. He gave us this famous line that the church is not an NGO.
So, I'm watching this mass looking for something like that from Pope Leo. Thats going to be a bit of his plan.
LAMB: Yeah. I remember Francis had a they had a homily ready for him and he said, no, he didn't speak off the cuff. So, it'd be interesting to see how Pope Leo does. I don't imagine he will speak off the cuff, but let's see.
BURNETT: His comments yesterday were clearly so thoughtful and prepared. Thats why it took him over an hour instead of the half hour we anticipated to come out. He took that time.
Christopher, I -- you know, the whole concept of changing your name, obviously, it is tradition. St. Peter himself did it. I guess he was born Simon, baptized Simon, but I am -- I have seen it discussed as a re -- a death, right? In a sense?
LAMB: Yeah.
BURNETT: To what you're talking -- I know that's a negative word, but the death of who you were, and you are becoming something else. And then the flip side of that would be the more positive of a rebirth.
LAMB: Yes, yes.
BURNETT: Of being reborn. And you are being reborn as -- as something new and different. And maybe, perhaps that speaks to the intangible change that you're talking about. But he has to start to fill Leo XIV, because, you know, I think as a child growing up, John Paul II.
LAMB: Yeah.
BURNETT: I never even knew his real name until I was much older. You become the name that you take on.
LAMB: Yes, I think that's right. And you do. When you become pope, say goodbye to your old life, you know? He's not going to be able to just walk out in saint peters square, go to a restaurant, or, you know, fly back home for the weekend. You know, he now is totally dedicated to the ministry of being pope. And that obviously is very demanding one as pope, he has responsibility for appointing bishops around the world. He'll have regular audiences in St. Peter's Square.
He will be expected to travel. He has to deal with the Vatican and the Global Church.
So, it is a big change for him, and it will be fascinating to see how he conducts himself. It seems we've seen already in some early moments that he's going to be someone who I think is very thoughtful and prepared. We saw a video of him going back to his apartment.
BURNETT: Yes, you saw this video last night.
LAMB: And he was greeting people, bless them. I think he went back to his apartment to get a few things, because.
BURNETT: Toothbrush, he is, after all, a mortal. A mortal, a mortal man, not immortal. Exactly.
But, Father Patrick, it is you know, in that sense, you pick a name because it symbolizes something. So, you are sending a signal, but then he has to fill it. He has to fill it, and we don't know. So we're looking at, well, perhaps what he might have posted on social media about, you know, his strong feelings on, on immigration that he -- and processional is starting here as were, as we are speaking for the mass.
So, I guess, let's look at this, Father Patrick, and tell me what you see.
BRISCOE: Well, one thing that's quite remarkable that we've been seeing in the masses. Of course, Cardinal Parolin, Cardinal Re, as they've celebrated all these masses, they were not carrying the crosier, but he's now here, the bishop of Rome, possessing with the cross, showing us one of his great signs of authority, holding it, carrying it for the first time.
BURNETT: Trying to get a glimpse here of his face. This first face, first glimpse of the pope. Leading his first mass as the supreme pontiff.
(HOLY MASS WITH THE CARDINALS)
[05:12:33]
BURNETT: All right. The mass has begun here in Rome at the Sistine Chapel, and we were just seeing Pope Leo incensed the altar as were watching him. There is a big change. It appears in the way he chose to present that altar. Tell us.
LAMB: Because there are some Catholics who want the liturgy to go back. They want some of the old ways of saying the liturgy, the traditionalists.
BURNETT: Which would mean in the Sistine Chapel. You're back faces the congregation.
LAMB: Exactly. Whereas he's clearly decided, as is the norms of worship normally in the catholic church, that he will be facing the cardinals. So I think that's a --
BURNETT: Father, do you see the significance of that? I'm just pointing out, as people are watching what you see to be two altars, right? That he would -- could have chosen to preside.
BRISCOE: It would certainly be his choice, absolutely.
BURNETT: Be the more formal one facing the back to the audience, the face to the east, that it appears that he set up a separate altar and wanted to change that.
BRISCOE: Absolutely. I'm certain that it was his choice. Theres -- there's no way that he's celebrating this mass without having made that decision. And I -- what's significant about it, just to underscore what Christopher has said, is that this is the way that most Catholics would experience the mass.
BURNETT: Yes. BRISCOE: And so, we have here a pope who's praying with us in a way
that -- in a way that is understood by all and appreciated by all.
BURNETT: And a signal he is sending to his former colleagues, now his cardinals, but also to -- to all of us. I mean, they know they've chosen to televise this, this mass while they are the only ones there. It is, of course, for everyone. Yeah. And it is something that I mean, if he was facing backwards would be very foreign to most Catholics.
LAMB: Yes. That would send a statement. And his decision now has sent a statement. And of course, what Pope Francis during his pontificate wants to do is continue the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, which took place in the mid '60s, set the blueprint for the Catholic Church of the modern day world. He clearly wants to continue in that -- in that -- in that vein.
BURNETT: Father Patrick, as we watch these cardinals praying in this sacred space, what does this mean for them? We -- we don't know. We may never know. We may partially know what happened in the Sistine Chapel on the votes.
One thing we do know is he is the pope. That means he got at least 89 votes, maybe more. There are some, though, who would have wanted a very different outcome.
So, what is this moment like for them as they are now formally showing the world, yes, we are coalescing.
[05:15:06]
This is our pope.
BRISCOE: Well, the first words that we were hearing in this beautiful psalm that was being sung as Pope Leo possessed into the Sistine Chapel, those words were words of joy, words of rejoicing. This mass has an extremely celebratory character to it. The solemn days of mourning from Pope Francis have passed. We'll continue to pray for the peaceful repose of Pope Francis, but this is a day of great rejoicing for the church, as Pope Leo begins his pontificate.
BURNETT: Christopher, how, when you look through this mass, and we do have a full readout of how we anticipate it to go, are we able to tell how much of this is specific and perhaps chosen by this pope, or how much would be the formal traditional normal if there is such a word? First mass for a new pontiff?
LAMB: Well, I think it looks to me like its following the normal pattern of a mass and with the possibly specific prayers to for the fact that it is mass. His first mass as pope. But from looking at it, it seems to me that it's an everyday mass in the sense that it's in Latin here in the Vatican. Thats often how masses are set. And I think it will be fairly standard in that -- in that -- in that sense.
BRISCOE: The Missa de Angelis, which is the mass that's being sung now in Latin, is often sung in cathedrals throughout the world. It has a particularly solemn but celebratory character, and would be familiar to many Catholics. And that's part of the beauty of what were seeing here, is that kind of docility before the tradition on the part of Pope Leo.
LAMB: Yeah, but I think the gospel is going to be significant. Thats going to reference Simon Peter, who Catholics believe is the first pope. So, we're going to have that, you know, a sense of that scriptural mandate for the Petrine ministry read out, that that will have been chosen specifically for this.
BRISCOE: Absolutely. We're seeing in the readings, of course, three, three prominent languages, languages that are important in the life of Pope Leo. We'll hear the first reading in English, and of course, the Chicago born man who's stretching back to the roots in that way. We'll hear a reading in Spanish reminding us that he was a missionary bishop, long serving in Peru. And then the gospel proclaimed in Italian, the Holy Father, having served here in Rome working in the roman curia before. So, it's a kind of -- a kind of summary and signal of who he is.
BURNETT: And he would have selected these readings?
LAMB: Well --
BURNETT: We don't know.
LAMB: I think he would have had a say in them. But what we've got is the is the in the gospel reading is the famous passage where Jesus says to Peter, thou art, Peter. And upon this rock I will build my church. So that's the commission on to Peter to be the leader of the church. And that's what Catholics hold.
BRISCOE: Exactly. These readings belong to the set patterns of prayer of the church. The way that you -- the way that we have suggested readings for a funeral mass or for a wedding.
BURNETT: Week of the year.
BRISCOE: Exactly. Yes, exactly.
BURNETT: So selected from that. And interesting, though, the order in which the readings go by language is where he was born, where he began in English, Spanish. We know he had eventually become, in the past ten years, a dual citizen of Peru, where he spent so much time and now Italian, his -- his future.
LAMB: Yes. And it's interesting he didn't speak in English yesterday, so I think when he made those remarks, Italian and Spanish, but not English.
BURNETT: In such a somber moment. But a proud moment for -- for him and for the church. May I ask, how is his Italian and his Latin perceived?
LAMB: Well, I think he's pretty good. I think his languages are.
BURNETT: You know, is it not? Not -- I'm not saying it in a flip way. I mean, I can say, oh, Americans speaking Italian in the accent or, you know, how is he? Because it is crucial here.
LAMB: Yeah. I think he speaks it very well. I don't detect a big accent. And I mean, I wouldn't say I'm a linguistic expert, but I think he speaks it with a good level of proficiency.
BURNETT: And he speaks other languages as well. We know French and Portuguese.
LAMB: He's a polyglot.
BURNETT: Yes. It truly is. Well, lets listen to Pope Leo here as he officiates for a moment.
POPE LEO XIV, CATHOLIC CHURCH (through translator): Manifest Jesus Christ, thy son, to all men, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who reigns with the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.
Here comes the first reading from the Book of Revelation 21.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the lamb. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance, like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
It had a great high wall with 12 gates, and at the gates 12 angels. And on the gates the names of the 12 tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed. On the east, three gates. On the north, three gates. On the south, three gates. And on the west, three gates.
And the wall of the city had 12 foundations, and on them were the 12 names of the 12 apostles of the lamb.
(SINGING)
BURNETT: Pope Leo, in this first mass, Father Patrick, the first reading was read by a nun, and the symbolism of that quite powerful as you saw the sea of cardinals and the woman chosen to read the first reading, the pope would have had been able to make the decisions on who reads what reading. And I think it's safe to say there's not -- no decision that is made that was not made with purpose.
BRISCOE: Absolutely. And again, were seeing a kind of continuation here of Pope Francis, you know, as Christopher was pointing out, the way that the altar was set up was very important. It was the way the Pope Francis celebrated mass at the inauguration of his ministry. So were seeing a kind of succession of that and the inclusion of a of a woman as a lector is something that Catholics in the United States would certainly be very, very comfortable and very familiar with.
But that's not the case for the universal church.
BURNETT: Right.
BRISCOE: And so we're seeing -- we're seeing a nod to and certainly a sign of respect for the role that women have in the church here. And listening to her voice.
BURNETT: And because I don't want to -- I don't want to read too much into anything, obviously. But the context, of course, is the role of women in the church, which has become so central to its future right, and its growth. And it's a fault line in terms of conservatives and those who would be more progressive. So not to read too much into what he chose to do here, but it does matter that it was a nun.
LAMB: Yes. And I think the question of the role of women is a one of the number one issues for the Catholic Church, and its reforms and its mission, how to give a greater visibility to women in the church.
[05:25:14]
I actually, before I came, I spoke to Sister Nathalie Becquart, who is a senior Vatican official here. She helps run the pope's, Pope Francis reform process, and she actually knows Pope Leo. She said that he's someone who's a, you know, a good colleague, and she feels she can work with him.
So, I think that is going to be important. The whole question of the role of women.
BURNETT: Well, even as this decision was made, those who had preferred a more conservative, traditional turn on this choice. One of the first things, Father, I, you know, they would say is, well, but -- but he won't allow women to be deacons. I mean, these issues are matter greatly. And there -- there is a divide and we don't yet know.
BRISCOE: No, of course not.
BURNETT: How far --
BRISCOE: But even that would be a kind of continuation of Pope Francis, who frustrated many of his more progressive critics by himself not advancing some of these --
BURNETT: And you have a woman reading the Second Reading as well.
LAMB: I, yeah, significant. Again, both the readings are by women and in Spanish this time. But yes, I mean, Father Patrick's right. The pope -- Pope Francis did not want to move forward, it seemed, with, female deacons, although it is an open question. And I imagine it will continue to be discussed.
BURNETT: Right, right. And as we as again, as we learn more about. And. And I suppose, Father, what really happened in the conclave itself. And again, well only know what we know, but we will start to be able to read the tea leaves. Right. How much? You know, how -- how overwhelming was the support? And what does that mean in terms of what direction Pope Leo will go on such charged issues?
BRISCOE: Certainly. And well, we've already learned something very important, which is that a consensus was built during the conversations during the general congregations. So, as the cardinals were talking every day during those meetings, they were having leading up to the conclave, there was a kind of agreement and unity.
Now, we didn't see it, of course, because we weren't in those conversations, but we saw it now upon the election, because the election happened just after the fourth ballot. So that was a very strong sign, actually, of, of a kind of an agreement of a conversation that had been building. And that's very encouraging, because, of course, if the balloting had gone on, it would lead us to know --
BURNETT: It would signal division.
BRISCOE: That there was a certainly a longer conversation happening there.
BURNETT: As we watch this part of the point of this mass is it is the pope and the cardinals, right? It is their first mass together. But the Vatican is broadcasting it to the world so that Catholics can share in it, some of them lucky enough to be here in Rome.
Ben Wedeman is in St. Peter's Suare with us, with people who have come here to witness this, to hear the parts that they can see on the loudspeakers, and some of the screens.
Ben, who -- who is -- who are you seeing? Who is choosing to come here for this first mass?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly what we're seeing is the usual collection of people from around the world. But we had the opportunity to speak with a group of about five Americans who were thrilled to be here, not only because they're in Rome. They were able to go to the Vatican and be here at this historic moment, but they were still in a bit of shock that an American had been chosen as the pope, the 267th, the first time we have an American pope.
So, I think a lot of people are still in shock. All of them we spoke to had no idea who he was before he was named yesterday. And of course, we were speaking with some Italians also who were a little disappointed that it was not an Italian pope. They pointed out that it's not been since John Paul I in 1978, when there was an Italian pope.
But many people, Italians included, were pleasantly surprised that what we heard yesterday was that Pope Leo speaks very good Italian, very good Spanish as well. So many people do feel that even though he is an American and there have traditionally been reservations about an American pope because of the amount of power the United States wields in the world, but nonetheless, the impression seems to be, and what we're seeing in the Italian media as well, that he is seen as somebody with a global vision, not a narrow American vision.
So, I think the reception, what we're seeing in the media here at least, is that they're giving him the benefit of the doubt, stressing that he is talking about building bridges, which of course, has been juxtaposed with the position of the current resident of the White House who seems to be more interested.
