Leo XIV, new pope and 'humble servant of God', visits Francis's tomb

The new Pope leaves the Vatican for the first time since his election – and chooses a symbolic place: he visits the tomb of his predecessor.

Every newly elected Holy Father faces a long list of challenges and tasks. Some are left to him by his predecessor, others arise in connection with the social and political developments of the world. It is no different in the case of Leo XIV.

Two days after being elected head of the Catholic Church, the U.S. Peruvian pope visited the burial of the Argentine pontiff

Pope Leo XIV visits Pope Francis's tomb

VATICAN CITY, Holy See — Leo XIV prayed at the tomb of Pope Francis on Saturday, just two days after being elected new head of the Catholic Church and hours after vowing to humbly follow in his predecessor’s footsteps. Vatican News published a photo of the white-robed pope kneeling before Francis’s simple marble tomb at the basilica in central Rome, where the faithful are still queuing to pay their respects. The surprise visit to Santa Maria Mag…

Two days after taking office as leader of the Catholic Church, the new Pope Leo XIV made a stop at the Basilica of St.Mary Major, back to the Vatican, where he stopped to pray before the tomb of Pope Francis and the icon of the Virgin Mary Salus Populi Romani.An image spread by Vatican News this Saturday captured the instant when the pontiff knelt down in front of the tomb and dedicated several minutes of prayer to his predecessor.

"Simple devotion": Pope Leo XIV prays at the tomb of his predecessor and puts off a white rose. He also expressed his admiration for Francis.