Pope Leo celebrates Mass at tomb of St Peter before first Sunday blessing

Pope Leo XIV appears at the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica for his first Sunday blessing after his election. Picture: Domenico Stinellis/AP

Pope Leo XIV celebrated a private Mass on Sunday near the tomb of St Peter, before he was to deliver his first Sunday noon blessing from St Peter’s Basilica.

The Vatican said the Pope was joined by the head of his Augustinian order, the Rev Alejandro Moral Anton. The Mass occurred in the grottoes underneath St Peter’s, the traditional burial place of St Peter – the apostle who is considered the be the first pope.