VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV took his first popemobile ride through St. Peter’s Square ahead of his installation on Sunday, waving from the back of the open-back truck to the crowd waving flags and cheering “Viva il Papa!”
The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica tolled as Leo waved as the truck looped slowly through the square. The crowd cheered and waved a sea of Peruvian, American and Holy See flags mixed in with flags of other nations and banners.
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Pope Leo XIV on his popemobile, bottom, tours St. Peter's Square at the Vatican prior to the inaugural Mass of his pontificate, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Vice President JD Vance, center, and second lady Usha Vance, center left, attend the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
A woman waves a United States flag ahead of Pope Leo XIV's formal inauguration of his pontificate with a Mass in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Faithful gather as Pope Leo XIV celebrates a Mass for the formal inauguration of his pontificate, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Pope Leo XIV's waves to people before his formal inauguration of his pontificate with a Mass in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV's waves to people before his formal inauguration of his pontificate with a Mass in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV on his popemobile tours St. Peter's Square at the Vatican prior to the inaugural Mass of his pontificate, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A bird flies by as Pope Leo XIV on his popemobile tours St. Peter's Square at the Vatican prior to the inaugural Mass of his pontifcate, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
People gather to attend Pope Leo XIV's formal inauguration of his pontificate with a Mass in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV arrives for the inauguration of his pontificate with a Mass in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Leo XIV on his popemobile tours St. Peter's Square at the Vatican prior to the inaugural Mass of his pontifcate, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
People gather as Pope Leo XIV celebrates a Mass for the formal inauguration of his pontificate, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Cardinals take their places during the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
Security surrounds Pope Leo XIV as he arrives aboard the popemobile ahead of a Mass for the formal inauguration of his pontificate, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025.(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Leo XIV on his popemobile tours St. Peter's Square at the Vatican prior to the inaugural Mass of his pontificate, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Guests and dignitaries attend the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
Pope Leo XIV celebrates a Mass for the formal inauguration of his pontificate, in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Stefano Costantino)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio takes the Holy Communion as other delegates including Vice President JD Vance, center-left, and second lady Usha Vance, left, kneel in prayer during a Mass for the formal inauguration of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Ukraine's President Volodymr Zelenskyy, left, and Vice President JD Vance greet each other as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, center, looks on ahead of Pope Leo XIV's formal inauguration of his pontificate with a Mass in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Leo XIV's holds Mass during the formal inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Cardinals attend a Mass for the formal inauguration of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate, in St. Peter's Square, attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Stefano Costantino)
Pope Leo XIV receives the pallium, or lambswool stole, a symbol of the papacy, from Cardinal Mario Zenari during a Mass for the formal inauguration of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Faithful wave flags of the United States of America as Pope Leo XIV on his popemobile tours St. Peter's Square at the Vatican prior to the inaugural Mass of his pontificate, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Pope Leo XIV holds Mass during the formal inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Catholic priests gather as Pope Leo XIV celebrates a Mass for the formal inauguration of his pontificate, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV on his popemobile tours St. Peter's Square at the Vatican prior to the inaugural Mass of his pontificate, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Pope Leo XIV on his popemobile, bottom, tours St. Peter's Square at the Vatican prior to the inaugural Mass of his pontificate, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Vice President JD Vance, center, and second lady Usha Vance, center left, attend the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
A woman waves a United States flag ahead of Pope Leo XIV's formal inauguration of his pontificate with a Mass in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Faithful gather as Pope Leo XIV celebrates a Mass for the formal inauguration of his pontificate, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Pope Leo XIV's waves to people before his formal inauguration of his pontificate with a Mass in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV's waves to people before his formal inauguration of his pontificate with a Mass in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV on his popemobile tours St. Peter's Square at the Vatican prior to the inaugural Mass of his pontificate, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
A bird flies by as Pope Leo XIV on his popemobile tours St. Peter's Square at the Vatican prior to the inaugural Mass of his pontifcate, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
People gather to attend Pope Leo XIV's formal inauguration of his pontificate with a Mass in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV arrives for the inauguration of his pontificate with a Mass in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Leo XIV on his popemobile tours St. Peter's Square at the Vatican prior to the inaugural Mass of his pontifcate, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
People gather as Pope Leo XIV celebrates a Mass for the formal inauguration of his pontificate, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Cardinals take their places during the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
Security surrounds Pope Leo XIV as he arrives aboard the popemobile ahead of a Mass for the formal inauguration of his pontificate, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025.(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Leo XIV on his popemobile tours St. Peter's Square at the Vatican prior to the inaugural Mass of his pontificate, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Guests and dignitaries attend the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
Pope Leo XIV celebrates a Mass for the formal inauguration of his pontificate, in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Stefano Costantino)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio takes the Holy Communion as other delegates including Vice President JD Vance, center-left, and second lady Usha Vance, left, kneel in prayer during a Mass for the formal inauguration of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Ukraine's President Volodymr Zelenskyy, left, and Vice President JD Vance greet each other as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, center, looks on ahead of Pope Leo XIV's formal inauguration of his pontificate with a Mass in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Leo XIV's holds Mass during the formal inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Cardinals attend a Mass for the formal inauguration of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate, in St. Peter's Square, attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Stefano Costantino)
Pope Leo XIV receives the pallium, or lambswool stole, a symbol of the papacy, from Cardinal Mario Zenari during a Mass for the formal inauguration of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Faithful wave flags of the United States of America as Pope Leo XIV on his popemobile tours St. Peter's Square at the Vatican prior to the inaugural Mass of his pontificate, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
Pope Leo XIV holds Mass during the formal inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter's Square attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Catholic priests gather as Pope Leo XIV celebrates a Mass for the formal inauguration of his pontificate, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV on his popemobile tours St. Peter's Square at the Vatican prior to the inaugural Mass of his pontificate, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
