A bit later the pontiff added, “God bless you all.” The brief exchange, captured by NewsNation correspondent Robert Sherman as the pontiff made his way through a crowd at the Vatican on Monday, was just one of several viral moments from Leo XIV’s public debut.

Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first mass on Friday in the Sistine Chapel with the cardinals who elected him, as Italian media trumpeted the historic significance of Chicago-born missionary Robert Prevost becoming the first North American pontiff.

Pope Leo XIV made his debut on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, leading the Regina Coeli prayer. He also spoke clearly about his stance on the war in Ukraine. "I too appeal to the powerful of the world by repeating these ever-relevant words: never again war!