Wednesday, 29 October, 2025
London, UK
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 3:06 AM
overcast clouds 12.5°C
Condition: Overcast clouds
Humidity: 85%
Wind Speed: 13.0 km/h

Inauguration of Pope Leo XIV

Two Kings and Three Queens are leading Royal Guests and Dignitaries from around the World at the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on May 18th, just a few weeks after the Funeral of Pope Francis.


Pope Leo XIV was Inaugurated as the 267th Pope during a Mass in St Peter’s Square, following a Procession to the Vatican in the Popemobile through crowds of almost 250,000.

The rite highlights the bond with the Apostle Peter and his martyrdom, which nurtured the nascent Church of Rome, and the significance of the “Petrine” episcopal insignia conferred upon the Pope: the Pallium and the Ring of the Fisherman.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium

Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco

Hereditary Prince Alois and Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh

Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan

The Prince of Windisch-Graetz 

 

The Prince and Princess of Piedmont (wearing Queen Margherita’s Musy Tiara) led the Royal Guests at the Coronation of Pope Pius XII  at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican in 1939.

King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium (wearing the Nine Provinces Tiara and Wolfers Necklace) and Hereditary Grand Duke Jean and Hereditary Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte of Luxembourg (in the Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara) led the Dignitaries at the Coronation of Pope Paul VI, which was the last Papal Coronation.

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain and King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium were among the guests at the ‘pared down’ Inauguration Mass of Pope John Paul I in 1978.

Just a few weeks later, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte of Luxembourg, Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace of Monaco, Princess Gina of Liechtenstein attend the Inauguration Mass of Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.

In 2005, the Inauguration Mass of Pope Benedict XVI was attended by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Albert II of Monaco, The Duke of Brabant and Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein, and the Prince of Orange.

The Inauguration Mass of Pope Francis in 2013 was attended by King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco, The Prince and Princess of Asturias, Hereditary Prince Alois and Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein, The Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Royal Guests set to attend the Inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV this Sunday:

 

16

LP Staff Writers

Writers at Lord’s Press come from a range of professional backgrounds, including history, diplomacy, heraldry, and public administration. Many publish anonymously or under initials—a practice that reflects the publication’s long-standing emphasis on discretion and editorial objectivity. While they bring expertise in European nobility, protocol, and archival research, their role is not to opine, but to document. Their focus remains on accuracy, historical integrity, and the preservation of events and individuals whose significance might otherwise go unrecorded.

Categories

Follow

    Newsletter

    Subscribe to receive your complimentary login credentials and unlock full access to all features and stories from Lord’s Press.

    As a journal of record, Lord’s Press remains freely accessible—thanks to the enduring support of our distinguished partners and patrons. Subscribing ensures uninterrupted access to our archives, special reports, and exclusive notices.

    LP is free thanks to our Sponsors

    Privacy Overview

    Privacy & Cookie Notice

    This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and to help us understand how our content is accessed and used. Cookies are small text files stored in your browser that allow us to recognise your device upon return, retain your preferences, and gather anonymised usage statistics to improve site performance.

    Under EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we process this data based on your consent. You will be prompted to accept or customise your cookie preferences when you first visit our site.

    You may adjust or withdraw your consent at any time via the cookie settings link in the website footer. For more information on how we handle your data, please refer to our full Privacy Policy