Pope Leo XIV lamented the decline of faith in favour of "other certainties such as technology, money, success, and power" during his first Mass as leader of the Catholic Church at the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican on Friday.
Speaking to cardinals in his homily delivered in Italian, he remarked: "Even today, there are many situations where the Christian faith is considered absurd, and where other certainties like technology, money, success, power, and pleasure are preferred."
He highlighted that these environments make it challenging to witness and proclaim the Gospel, where believers face ridicule, persecution, contempt, or, at best, are tolerated and pitied.
He urged for an urgent mission in these places, noting that a lack of faith often leads to tragedies such as "violations of personal dignity" and "family crises."
The then bishop Robert Francis Prevost during a visit to Chulucanas, Peru, in 2024. Prevost was elected Pope on May 8, 2025. Credit: Belga
As the first American Pope, elected on Thursday during the second day of the conclave, he also expressed concern about contexts where Jesus is appreciated as a man but reduced to merely a charismatic leader or a superhuman figure.
He emphasised that this issue is present not only among non-believers but also among many baptised individuals who effectively live in atheism.
Robert Francis Prevost, wearing black shoes like Pope Francis rather than the traditional red papal footwear, called on the Church to be a "beacon that illuminates the world’s nights."
