Church must bring light to world’s ‘dark nights’: Pope Leo at first mass

Pope Leo XIII, the new head of the Catholic Church, will be installed as pope on May 18 after being elected by cardinals following Pope Francis's death. As the first American and Peruvian pope in the Church’s history, Leo promises to address societal challenges like loss of meaning, neglect of mercy, and family crises. He emphasized that faith is often misunderstood and called for a focus on compassion and human dignity. As a "faithful administrator," he aims to unite the Church while inviting world leaders to his formal launch on May 18.