Pope Leo XIV's Accession/Inauguration Mass -May 2025

lula · May 17, 2025

King Felipe and Queen Letizia arrive at the Spanish Embassy in the Vatican.

Los reyes de España llegan a Roma para la misa de inicio del pontificado de León XIV

Roma, 17 may (EFE).- Los reyes de España, Felipe VI y Letizia, llegaron a Roma este sábado a última ...

www.abc.es

Spanish Royal Family on Instagram: "¡Los reyes están en Roma! ¡Y los vi, les di la mano a los dos! ¡El rey Felipe me miró y dijo: “¡hola!”! Me puse tan nerviosa que no pude decir nada coherente. ¡Son tan guapos! 😍🥹"

1,102 likes, 78 comments - spain_royal on May 17, 2025: "¡Los reyes están en Roma! ¡Y los vi, les di la mano a los dos! ¡El rey Felipe me miró y dijo: “¡hola!”! Me puse tan nerviosa que no pude decir nada coherente. ¡Son tan guapos! 😍🥹".

www.instagram.com

Spanish Royal Family on Instagram: "Tenía tanto miedo de que se me apagara el móvil. Estaba esperando allí sola con la prensa, y luego, en algún momento, empezó a llegar gente de golpe y comenzaron a empujarse. Primero el coche con los reyes entró de

625 likes, 22 comments - spain_royal on May 17, 2025: "Tenía tanto miedo de que se me apagara el móvil. Estaba esperando allí sola con la prensa, y luego, en algún momento, empezó a llegar gente de golpe y comenzaron a empujarse. Primero el coche con los reyes entró dentro (por cierto, ni...

www.instagram.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1923801182708879579

Somebody · May 17, 2025

Pope John Paul I was the first to decide he didn’t want to be crowned but instead preferred an inauguration. So, if even the popes decided to no longer be crowned, it seems perfectly fine if the other European monarchy who still has that tradition switches to an inauguration as well at some point.

doro · May 17, 2025

President of Ireland Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina will attend the inauguration mass tomorrow

President Michael D Higgins and wife Sabina travel to Rome for Pope Leo mass

PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina have travelled to Rome to attend the Inauguration of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. The Mass of Inauguration is set to kick off at 10am in St Peter’…

www.thesun.ie

iceflower · May 18, 2025

Here are the first photos of the inauguration today:

** gettyimages gallery ** ppe gallery **

Pope Leo XIV greets the crowds before inaugural Mass

Tens of thousands of people had streamed into the square ahead of celebrating history's first American pope with a formal installation ceremony.

www.dailymail.co.uk

El rey Felipe y la reina Letizia, de blanco y con mantilla, en la misa inaugural del Papa León XIV

Es la primera vez que se pone un velo con blonda en 21 años, desde que se casó

www.hola.com

Messe d’inauguration de Léon XIV : Charlène de Monaco, Letizia d’Espagne, Maria Teresa de Luxembourg en blanc

250 000 personnes sont réunies ce dimanche 18 mai 2025 pour assister à la messe d’inauguration du pontificat de Léon XIV. Parmi les invités à la cérémonie, de nombreux royaux qui ont suivi la tradition.

www.pointdevue.fr

Albert, Mathilde, Henri, Letizia… Les têtes couronnées à la messe inaugurale du pape Léon XIV

EN IMAGES - Sur le parvis de la basilique Saint-Pierre, le pape Léon XIV a célébré la messe inaugurale de son pontificat. Dans l’assemblée, les royautés se sont réunies au premier rang.

www.parismatch.com

** Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein and Sophie, Princess of Liechtenstein **

** Prince Albert and Princess Charlene **

** King Philippe and Queen Mathilde **

** King Felipe and Queen Letizia **

** Prince Ghazi bin Mohammad of Jordan **

** Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa **

** Queen Máxima **

A congratulatory message of King Frederik and Queen Mary who did not attend:

Kongeparret sender lykønskning til H.H. Pave Leo 14.

Indsættelsen af H.H. Pave Leo 14. markeres søndag den 18. maj 2025 med en højtidelig messe i Vatikanet. I den forbindelse sender Kongeparret en lykønskning. Kongeparret sender lykønskning...

www.kongehuset.dk

DET DANSKE KONGEHUS 🇩🇰 on Instagram: "Indsættelsen af Hans Hellighed Pave Leo 14. markeres i dag med en højtidelig messe i Vatikanet. I den forbindelse har Deres Majestæter Kongen og Dronningen sendt en lykønskning til Paven🇻🇦"

3,249 likes, 21 comments - detdanskekongehus on May 18, 2025: "Indsættelsen af Hans Hellighed Pave Leo 14. markeres i dag med en højtidelig messe i Vatikanet. I den forbindelse har Deres Majestæter Kongen og Dronningen sendt en lykønskning til Paven🇻🇦".

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And a message of King Harald:

Gratulasjon til Hans Hellighet Pave Leo

Følgende gratulasjonsbudskap overbringes fra Hans Majestet Kong Harald til Hans Hellighet Pave Leo XIV.

www.kongehuset.no

Prince Carlos Javier shared some photos that include among others Prince Emanuele Filiberto, Prince Jaime, Prince Aimone and son Umberto and the Duke of Castro:

@realecasadiborboneparma on Instagram: "In occasione della solenne Celebrazione Eucaristica che si è svolta a Roma, il 18 maggio 2025, presso la Basilica di San Pietro, per l’inizio del Pontificato di S.S. Papa Leone XIV, è intervenuto S.A.R. il Prin

11 likes, 0 comments - realecasadiborboneparma on May 18, 2025: "In occasione della solenne Celebrazione Eucaristica che si è svolta a Roma, il 18 maggio 2025, presso la Basilica di San Pietro, per l’inizio del Pontificato di S.S. Papa Leone XIV, è intervenuto S.A.R. il Principe Carlo Saverio...

www.instagram.com

Photos shared be the Dutch court:

Koninklijk Huis on Instagram: "Koningin Máxima en @minpres Schoof zijn in Vaticaanstad, Rome, bij de inauguratie van Zijne Heiligheid paus Leo XIV. 📷 ANP"

2,772 likes, 22 comments - koninklijkhuis on May 18, 2025: "Koningin Máxima en @minpres Schoof zijn in Vaticaanstad, Rome, bij de inauguratie van Zijne Heiligheid paus Leo XIV. 📷 ANP".

www.instagram.com

Photos shared by the Belgian court:

Belgian Royal Palace on Instagram: "De Koning en Koningin wonen de intronisatie van Paus Leo XIV bij op het Sint-Pietersplein in Rome. ————— Le Roi et la Reine assistent à l’intronisation du Pape Léon XIV sur la Place Saint-Pierre à Rome. 📸 AFP"

2,264 likes, 12 comments - belgianroyalpalace on May 18, 2025: "De Koning en Koningin wonen de intronisatie van Paus Leo XIV bij op het Sint-Pietersplein in Rome. ————— Le Roi et la Reine assistent à l’intronisation du Pape Léon XIV sur la Place Saint-Pierre à Rome. 📸 AFP".

www.instagram.com

Blog Real · May 18, 2025

Live: Pope Leo XIV's Inauguration Mass

lula · May 18, 2025

Spanish Delegation

https://twitter.com/x/status/1924009970137280730

Photos of royals

De Charlene de Mónaco a Victoria de Suecia, toda la realeza que asiste al comienzo de la era León XIV

Tres semanas después de que acudieran al Vaticano para el solemne funeral de Estado del Papa Francisco

www.hola.com

Photos

De Felipe VI y Letizia a Charlène y Alberto de Mónaco: cónclave de 'royals' en el Vaticano por el inicio de pontificado de León XIV

Tal y como estaba previsto, a las 10:00 horas ha comenzado la primera misa oficial del Papa, que marca el inicio de su pontificado. Ha tenido lugar en la Plaza de San Pedro, hasta donde también se han desplazado Máxima de Holanda o los Grandes Duques de Luxemburgo.

www.elespanol.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1924034330818490373

https://twitter.com/x/status/1924056442140606862

https://twitter.com/x/status/1924052504515416350

PrincessofEurope · May 18, 2025

Princess Charlene and Queen Mathilde at Pope Leo's inauguration Mass

Europe's Royal Families arrived in St Peter's Square in the Vatican City to attend Pope Leo XIV's historic inauguration mass on Sunday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

4 of the Royals in the white privilege today so far

Mbruno · May 18, 2025

PrincessofEurope said:
Princess Charlene and Queen Mathilde at Pope Leo's inauguration Mass

Europe's Royal Families arrived in St Peter's Square in the Vatican City to attend Pope Leo XIV's historic inauguration mass on Sunday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

4 of the Royals in the white privilege today so far

It is good to see the white privilege confirmed for Monaco too.

Stefan · May 18, 2025

Mbruno said:
It is good to see the white privilege confirmed for Monaco too.

Liechtenstein should get it too. But as there is no Fürstin at the moment we won't get too know anyway.

Mbruno · May 18, 2025

It looks like the seating arrangement for the inaugural mass was different from the funeral of Pope Francis.

Minister of Court · May 18, 2025

Mbruno said:
It looks like the seating arrangement for the inaugural mass was different from the funeral of Pope Francis.

Yes indeed. Monarchs were given precedence after Italy and the Pope’s native countries. The way it should be.

LadyFinn · May 18, 2025

Crown princess Victoria arriving to the inauguration:
Pic

Crown Princess Victoria greets Pope Leo
Pic

Här möter kronprinsessan Victoria nye påven - Aftonbladet TV

Här möter kronprinsessan Victoria för första gången den nye påven

tv.aftonbladet.se

Kronprinsessan Victoria på plats i Vatikanen – se bilderna från påvens installation!

Kronprinsessan Victoria är på plats vid Petersplatsen, i Vatikanen, Rom för att närvara under Påve Leo XIV:s installationsmässa.

www.svenskdam.se

Kinan · May 18, 2025

What's the correct protocol to greet a Pope? I saw Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden who is a protestant, curtsied to the Pope. Meanwhile, monarchs and consorts of Belgium and Luxembourg didn't bow/curtsy to the Pope, despite being catholics. But king and queen of Spain did bow.

suztav · May 18, 2025

I didn't see any pictures of the Duke of Edinburgh. Did he attend?

Hans-Rickard · May 18, 2025

Kinan said:
What's the correct protocol to greet a Pope? I saw Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden who is a protestant, curtsied to the Pope. Meanwhile, monarchs and consorts of Belgium and Luxembourg didn't bow/curtsy to the Pope, despite being catholics. But king and queen of Spain did bow.

Crown Princess Victoria and the royal couples of Belgium and Luxembourg did correctly as The Pope is the monarch and head of state of the vatican.

The spanish king and queen probably just bowed out of respect. They didn’t have to as King Felipe and Pope Leo is equal heads of state.

iceflower · May 18, 2025

suztav said:
I didn't see any pictures of the Duke of Edinburgh. Did he attend?

Yes, the Duke of Edinburgh did attend, see here for example :flowers:

Tatiana Maria · May 18, 2025

Stefan said:
Liechtenstein should get it too. But as there is no Fürstin at the moment we won't get too know anyway.

When the princess consort of Monaco first wore white to visit the pope in 2013, the Vatican press office responded to inquiries by saying that "in accordance with prescribed ceremonial of the Vatican for Catholic sovereigns, the princess was allowed to dress in white".

If one takes them at their word, all wives of Catholic sovereigns are now given the “privilege”, though it seems Fürstin Marie chose not to exercise it.

Luxarazzi 101: Privilège du Blanc

With the inauguration of Pope Francis coming up on Tuesday, it is time to have a look at what the leading royal ladies, including Luxembour...

www.luxarazzi.com

And I can’t think of any reason why the future princess consort of Liechtenstein would be denied the privilege while it is given to the princess consort of Monaco.

Minister of Court said:
Yes indeed. Monarchs were given precedence after Italy and the Pope’s native countries. The way it should be.

Why is it "the way it should be"?

Duke of Marmalade · May 18, 2025

I'm surprised MT of Lux did not cover her head at all.

De Charlene de Mónaco a Victoria de Suecia, toda la realeza que asiste al comienzo de la era León XIV

Tres semanas después de que acudieran al Vaticano para el solemne funeral de Estado del Papa Francisco

www.hola.com

Blog Real · May 18, 2025

Video of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at the Mass for the inauguration of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.

Somebody · May 18, 2025

Based on all the pictures (especially by PPE) you might think that this event is about Felipe and Letizia instead of the pope.

Tatiana Maria · May 18, 2025

So it seems the Catholic royal families sent their monarchs while the Protestant royal families sent other senior royals (or a junior royal in the case of the UK) (ETA: or no royals in the cases of Denmark and Norway as @tommy100 pointed out).

hereditarytitles · May 18, 2025

Duke of Marmalade said:
I'm surprised MT of Lux did not cover her head at all.

De Charlene de Mónaco a Victoria de Suecia, toda la realeza que asiste al comienzo de la era León XIV

Tres semanas después de que acudieran al Vaticano para el solemne funeral de Estado del Papa Francisco

www.hola.com

Me too, she seems to be the only one

taogg · May 18, 2025

Duke of Marmalade said:
I'm surprised MT of Lux did not cover her head at all.

De Charlene de Mónaco a Victoria de Suecia, toda la realeza que asiste al comienzo de la era León XIV

Tres semanas después de que acudieran al Vaticano para el solemne funeral de Estado del Papa Francisco

www.hola.com

She didn't wear a mantila for Pope Francis' funeral either. She had correctly observed the dress code at two previous papal funerals and inaugurations, I don't know why she suddenly changed course.

tommy100 · May 18, 2025

Tatiana Maria said:
So it seems the Catholic royal families sent their monarchs while the Protestant royal families sent other senior royals (or a junior royal in the case of the UK).

TBF the Nordic countries didn't send anyone to the last Papal inauguration so in that sense Victoria is an outlier by attending. Likewise the British RF in recent times has always been represented by a more "junior" royal (though as the next most senior working royal after Prince William is Edward that junior really?) I suspect that really Maxima attended as
a) she is personally a Catholic even if her country and monarchy are officially not
and
b) no-one from the Dutch RF was able to attend Pope Francis' funeral as they were attending the King's Birthday celebrations which did cause some to comment on the parallels, so this way they have shown respect by sending as senior representative

Given the historic relationships between Protestant Churches and the Catholic Church weren't great it isn't that surprising they weren't sending senior royals to represent them in the past, obviously as things have changed so has that.

AnaC · May 18, 2025

Hans-Rickard said:
Crown Princess Victoria and the royal couples of Belgium and Luxembourg did correctly as The Pope is the monarch and head of state of the vatican.

The spanish king and queen probably just bowed out of respect. They didn’t have to as King Felipe and Pope Leo is equal heads of state.

But it is expected for Catholics to bow to the Pope. Of course, no one has to do it, like no one has to curtsey to a King/Queen but it would be unexpected if, in a formal event, non-reigning members of a royal family did not curtsey to a foreign monarch for example.

Sophie and Alois did bow to the Pope and while it's hardly the end of the world I find it odd that some Catholic royals didn't.

Tatiana Maria · May 18, 2025

AnaC said:
But it is expected for Catholics to bow to the Pope. Of course, no one has to do it, like no one has to curtsey to a King/Queen but it would be unexpected if, in a formal event, non-reigning members of a royal family did not curtsey to a foreign monarch for example.

Sophie and Alois did bow to the Pope and while it's hardly the end of the world I find it odd that some Catholic royals didn't.

Then I suppose the Catholic heads of state who did not bow/curtsey saw themselves as being first and foremost the heads of state of their countries, making them the equals of the monarch of Vatican City, and the Catholic heads of state who bowed/curtseyed saw themselves as being first and foremost members of the Catholic Church, making them the subjects of the pope.

Adda · May 18, 2025

Beautiful greeting from the Polish president and the first lady

https://twitter.com/x/status/1924092151131996432

WoW, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were also present!

Stefania Conrieri 👑 on Instagram: "‼️Oggi a San Pietro, oltre al duca di Edimburgo, c’erano anche i duchi di Gloucester! #royals #theroyalfamily #vatican"

17 likes, 1 comments - arie_da_regina on May 18, 2025: "‼️Oggi a San Pietro, oltre al duca di Edimburgo, c’erano anche i duchi di Gloucester! #royals #theroyalfamily #vatican".

www.instagram.com

iceflower · May 18, 2025

Adda said:
WoW, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were also present!

Stefania Conrieri 👑 on Instagram: "‼️Oggi a San Pietro, oltre al duca di Edimburgo, c’erano anche i duchi di Gloucester! #royals #theroyalfamily #vatican"

17 likes, 1 comments - arie_da_regina on May 18, 2025: "‼️Oggi a San Pietro, oltre al duca di Edimburgo, c’erano anche i duchi di Gloucester! #royals #theroyalfamily #vatican".

www.instagram.com