J.D. Vance will represent the U.S. at Pope Leo's inauguration mass

May 17, 2025 – VATICAN CITY – Pope Leo XIV will lead his inaugural mass Sunday. Vice President J.D. Vance – himself a Catholic convert – will lead a substantial United States delegation that includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) and other members of Congress.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the King and Queen of Spain – Felipe and Letizia will also be there as well as Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula Von der Layen, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, Canadian Prime Miniter Mark Carney, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Russia will be represented by Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to be in attendance. Sunday's mass will formally install Leo as the successor of St. Peter

Leo is the first American to hold the office of Pope. He grew up in Chicago and spent much of his ministry in Peru where he was made an Archbishop by Pope Francis. He is a Chicago White Sox fan and a graduate of Villanova University. He was a close advisor to Francis near the end of his life – being in charge of recommending bishop appointments to the Pontiff.

The Roman Catholic Church is by far the largest of the thousands of Christian denominations with nearly 1.4 billion members, including 20% of U.S. adults.

Vance's conversion to Catholicism occurred in August of 2019. Vance was the last world leader to meet with Pope Francis, who passed away less than 24 hours after celebrating Easter mass due to complications from pneumonia.

Vice President Vance will be joined by second lady Usha Vance. Rubio's wife, Jeanette Rubio, will also be in attendance.

President Donald J. Trump (R) represented the U.S. during the funeral for Pope Francis.

Leo will be the 267th Pope with St, Peter being the first. Peter and Paul were both executed during the reign of the mad Emperor Nero.