Peace be with you

POPE Leo XIV marked the official start of his papacy at his inauguration mass in front of presidents, patriarchs, princes and 150,000 pilgrims yesterday.

- BY HOLLIE BONE

The first American pope, 69, vowed to work for unity so that the Catholic Church becomes a sign of peace in the world.

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina were among the dignitaries to greet the new pontiff in the Vatican yesterday.

US vice president JD Vance, one of the last foreign officials to see Pope Francis before he died in April, led the US delegation. And Leo's repeated messages of peace seemed to have an effect, as Vance shook hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, despite their heated clash in the White House in February.