Islamabad (TDI): Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, attended the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV at St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City.
The ceremony marked the formal commencement of Pope Leo XIV’s papacy and was witnessed by an estimated 250,000 attendees, including numerous global leaders and dignitaries.
The Mass was attended by a distinguished assembly of international figures, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
European royalty, such as King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium and King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, were also present.
Read More:Â Vatican Elects New Pope 14 Days After Pope Francis’ Death
Pope Leo XIV, born in Chicago and holding dual U.S.-Peruvian citizenship, is the first pontiff from either nation. In his homily, he emphasized themes of peace, compassion, and unity, reflecting his commitment to addressing global challenges through dialogue and cooperation.
Chairman Gillani expressed Pakistan’s respect for inter-faith harmony and the Catholic community. He shook hands with the Pope, as part of the formal proceedings of the Mass.
He is also scheduled to engage in bilateral meetings with Vatican officials and international counterparts to discuss shared interests, including peace promotion, minority rights, and interfaith collaboration.

Sohail Majeed
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.