200 delegations expected at pope’s inauguration

Habemus Papam – Pope Leo XIV. (Photo: Catholic Church England and Wales/ Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

By ANSA, Philippine News Agency

ROME – Approximately 200 foreign delegations are expected to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, according to officials following a meeting of the Provincial Committee for Order and Security held Tuesday at the Rome prefecture.

Dignitaries set to attend include US Vice President JD Vance, the Spanish royal family, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and leaders from the European Union.

The first major event of the Jubilee Year featuring Pope Leo XIV will take place on Wednesday, May 14.

Pilgrims participating in the Jubilee of the Eastern Churches are scheduled to meet the American-born pontiff at 10 a.m. in the Paul VI Hall, the Vatican confirmed.

So far, the pope’s only public greeting has been to musical bands during the Regina Coeli on Sunday, who were in Rome celebrating their Holy Year.