World Leaders and Devotees Gather in Rome for Historic Papal Inauguration

Vatican City buzzes with anticipation as Pope Leo XIV's inauguration draws near. St. Peter's Square is filling rapidly with world leaders, church dignitaries, and eager members of the public hoping to witness this historic event. 10 News First's Chloe Bouras, reporting live from a rooftop vantage point, described the scene: "The chairs over here are where world leaders will be sitting, and over there are the Cardinals." She noted the extensive preparations, highlighting the scale and importance of the occasion. The two-to-three-hour mass, scheduled to start at 6 pm AEST, promises to be a momentous occasion marking the formal start of the new papacy. The excitement is palpable as people from around the globe gather to witness the beginning of this new chapter in the Catholic Church.