Official portrait of Pope Leo XIV revealed ahead of papal debut
The Vatican has presented the official photo of Pope Leo XIV with his signature, two days before the inauguration of his pontificate. The photograph may only be used for institutional purposes.
On Friday, the Vatican released the official photo of Pope Leo XIV, which bears his signature. This presentation occurred two days before the formal inauguration of the pope's pontificate. Notably, Pope Leo XIV hails from the USA.
In the photograph, Leo XIV is seen wearing a gold cross on his chest, with his signature at the bottom reading: Leo P.P XIV. The abbreviation P.P stands for Pastor Pastorum, meaning Shepherd of Shepherds.
The Vatican clarified that the photo is available for free, but may only be used for institutional purposes. Its use for any other purposes, including commercial use, is prohibited.
The inauguration of Leo XIV's pontificate will attract heads of state from around the world. King Charles III and Prince William will not attend the ceremony; instead, the UK will be represented by the Duke of Edinburgh. Pope Leo XIV, elected on May 8, began his first speech with words on peace and unity.
Pope Leo XIV, known as Robert Prevost before his election, celebrated his first mass in the Sistine Chapel the day after his election. His ascendancy to the papacy was announced when white smoke emerged from the Chapel's chimney. The new pope emphasizes the need for dialogue and bridge-building, offering hope for a new chapter in the life of the Church.
