VATICAN— The Mass for the inauguration of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV has been set for May 18, Sunday, 10 a.m., at St. Peter’s Square.

The Prefecture of the Pontifical Household released the schedule of the new pontiff’s initial activities on Friday.

Pope Leo XIV presided over Mass with the cardinal electors at 11 a.m. Friday Rome time, a solemn moment of fraternity with his closest advisers.

The Mass at the Sistine Chapel, where the election of the new pontiff was held, concluded the historic conclave that produced the first pope from the United States and the Augustinian order.

The new pope will have another encounter with the cardinals on Saturday, May 10, according to the schedule.

On Sunday noon, May 11, Pope Leo XIV will lead the Regina Caeli, the prayer that takes the place of the Angelus during Easter time, from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

He will meet with journalists and media professionals on Monday, May 12, at the Paul VI hall.

On May 16, it will be the turn of the heads of diplomatic missions to meet the pope.

The initial list of activities will also see Pope Leo XIV taking possession of the papal basilicas in Rome, the holy doors of which had been opened by his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, for the 2025 Jubilee Year.

Two days after the May 18 inauguration Mass, Pope Leo XIV will take possession of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. It has the tomb of St. Paul, whose outreach to the Gentiles led to the spread of Christianity.

On Sunday, May 25, after the Regina Caeli prayer, he will take possession of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the top Marian shrine, and the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the seat of the Diocese of Rome, whose bishop is the pope.

The pope will have his first Wednesday general audience on May 21 and a meeting with Vatican Curia and City-State officials and employees on May 24, a Saturday.

Below is the list released by the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household:

MAIN SCHEDULED ENGAGEMENTS

Saturday 10 May: Meeting with the Cardinals

Sunday 11 May: Central Loggia of the Basilica: Regina Caeli

Monday 12 May: Meeting with the world press

Friday 16 May: Diplomatic Corps (Mission Heads)

Sunday 18 May, 10.00, Saint Peter’s Square: Mass for the Beginning of the Pontificate

Tuesday 20 May: Possession of Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls

Wednesday 21 May: First General Audience

Saturday 24 May: Meeting with the Roman Curia and Vatican City State employees

Sunday 25 May: Regina Caeli

Possession of Papal Basilica of Saint John Lateran

Possession of Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

Also on Friday, the Holy See released a statement confirming “provisionally” that the heads of dicasteries and other Vatican offices will stay on until the pope makes a decision.

“His Holiness Leo XIV has expressed the wish that the Heads and Members of the Institutions of the Roman Curia, as well as the Secretaries and the President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, provisionally continue in their respective offices donec aliter provideatur (until otherwise provided),” it said.