Papamobic trip of the first American Pope captivated tens of thousands in the Plaza de San Pedro
The new Pope Leo XIV made his official debut against the world this Sunday with a Papamóvil tour that electrifies the faithful gathered in the Plaza de San Pedro. The white vehicle was slowly slid between the crowd, allowing the first American pontiff of history to greet the thousands of pilgrims who stirred closely United States flags, Peru and Vatican.
The bells of the Basilica resonated while Leo XIV, visibly excited, rose to greet from the back of the vehicle, which advanced through the square and then climbed and lowered the road of the Conciliazione. The career, carefully planned, was not only a gesture of pastoral accessibility, but also a powerful symbol of the global and media reach of the new Pope.
“Long live the Pope!” The present shouted, among banners, umbrellas and tears, in an almost cinematographic celebration atmosphere. The Papamóvil, turned into a modern emblem of the pontificate from John Paul II, was once again the scenario of a moment of direct communion between the successor of Pedro and his flock.
A tour with historical echoes
The image of the new Pope touring the place in Papamóvil evoked recent and significant memories. It was in that same vehicle that Pope Francis made his last public walk during Easter Sunday, and in which his coffin also moved last month, heading to his final resting place. The continuity of the gesture reinforces the emotional bond between the pontiffs and their faithful.
The scene was accompanied by an imposing logistics: giant screens distributed throughout the area, strict security measures and more than 250,000 people around the Vatican. Leo XIV, an Augustinian missionary and a humble profile figure, was serene but attentive to people’s enthusiasm. Although it is considered more reserved than its predecessor, its connection with the crowd during the route marked one of the most emblematic moments of the day.
A start of symbols
After the tour in Papamóvil, Leo XIV entered the Basilica of San Pedro to begin the opening ceremony of his pontificate. During the Mass, he received the traditional symbols of the papacy: the wool pallium, which represents the good shepherd, and the fisherman’s ring, official stamp of the pontiff.
In his first words as Pope, he stressed the need to act for peace, justice and truth, and warned about the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, drawing a parallelism with the industrial revolution faced by Leo XIII.
Although the Mass was not a coronation with Tiara, as in past times, the presence of the Papamóvil, the international diversity of the attendees and the global expectation marked the event as a modern and significant milestone in the history of the Vatican.
Source: Ambito
