How will Pope Leo lead? His first days may yield clues

Not agelong aft greeting crowds from the balcony overlooking St Peter's Square connected Thursday evening, Pope Leo XIV returned to the Sant'Uffizio Palace, wherever helium had been surviving for the past 2 months.

He was met by a jubilant radical of unit and erstwhile colleagues, each anxious to shingle his manus and congratulate him.

A young miss handed him a Bible to bless and sign. "Of course, though I person to effort retired my caller signature," Pope Leo said with a smile. "The aged 1 is of nary usage anymore."

He had lone stopped being Robert Francis Prevost a fewer hours before, erstwhile helium was elected pope. As helium took connected the sanction Leo XIV, a caller beingness began for the 69-year-old Chicago-born cardinal.

But details connected however Pope Leo volition beryllium looking to tally the Catholic Church are inactive scarce, and truthful implicit the adjacent fewer days and weeks each tiny hint – from his attire to his prime of accommodation – volition beryllium examined.

Scrutiny began arsenic soon arsenic helium stepped connected to the balcony, giving the assemblage a glimpse of the vestments helium chose for his archetypal appearance.

The golden transverse astir his cervix that caught the evening airy was seen arsenic a archetypal motion helium was departing from the simplicity of his predecessor's elemental metallic pendant; the embroidered stole and reddish mozzetta cemented that impression.

Then, the information that the homily helium delivered to cardinals successful the Sistine Chapel connected Friday greeting was scripted – alternatively than improvised – besides sent a awesome that "Leo volition beryllium much intimately aligned to contented than Francis was," said Austen Ivereigh, a Catholic writer and commentator.

But respective events implicit the adjacent fewer days and weeks volition springiness Pope Leo a further accidental to sketch retired the priorities of his pontificate.

On Monday helium is owed to clasp an assemblage with the media and connected 18 May helium volition observe a solemn inaugural wide successful St Peter's Square.

As portion of that wide helium volition present a homily successful the beingness of galore heads of authorities and dignitaries.

In his 2013 inaugural homily, Pope Francis asked "all those who person positions of work successful economic, governmental and societal life" to beryllium "protectors of creation, of God's plan… of 1 different and of the environment".

So that infinitesimal mightiness besides supply clues astir the matters dearest to Pope Leo's heart.

The caller Pope's prime of accommodation excessively volition beryllium significant.

Francis made the prime of choosing to unrecorded successful the elemental Casa Santa Marta guesthouse, which was seen arsenic revolutionary, but Leo whitethorn good determine to travel successful the footsteps of virtually each his predecessors and reside successful the expansive Apostolic Palace.

"He was elected little than a time ago; let's springiness him clip to decide," Vatican sources quoted by Italian media said.

"These are each important choices," Ivereigh added.

"Over the adjacent fewer days we'll beryllium learning much and much astir it – the archetypal week of the pontificate is simply a changeless revelation."

Meanwhile, successful the lack of details astir his aboriginal arsenic Leo XIV, fragments of the Pope's aged beingness arsenic Robert Prevost are emerging from astir the world.

This is the lawsuit especially successful his autochthonal Chicago and his adopted homeland of Peru, of which helium became a national successful 2015.

In 1 photo, helium is presented with a ample handmade day paper written successful Spanish and surrounded by cakes and balloons.

A video recorded erstwhile helium near Peru for Rome, successful which helium says helium would miss the "joy" of Peru and staples of section cuisine similar ceviche, has been met with triumph by South American societal media users.

"The pope is Peruvian; God loves Peru," Peruvian President Dina Boluarte said.

American tourists ambling successful St Peter's Square connected the time aft the predetermination were much restrained, and a spot frazzled by the quality that the caller Pope is from the US.

"I'm inactive amazed they chose an American, to beryllium honest," said Chicagoan Kerry, who is successful Rome connected her honeymoon.

She admitted she didn't yet cognize overmuch astir the caller Pope but was pleased by rumours that helium is simply a instrumentality of the White Sox shot team.

Asked however she thought Pope Leo felt today, she laughed: "He indispensable beryllium truly overwhelmed; I stake helium didn't slumber a wink!"

Her hubby Joseph agreed: "When you're elected Pope you travel present arsenic a cardinal for the conclave but past things ne'er spell backmost to the mode they were," helium said.

But helium felt similar the caller Pope seemed to beryllium "a antheral of confidence, supplication and humility".

"I conscionable commune that helium shows the satellite what being a antheral of God tin do."

The newly-weds posed for a representation with the day's newspapers, past wandered disconnected into St Peter's Square, resplendent successful the outpouring sunshine.