During the starting ceremony of his pontificate, the Pope Leo XIV He received an official invitation letter from the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardowho expressed interest in strengthening ties between the Vatican and the Latin American country.
The delivery of the letter was held on Sunday, May 18 in the San Pedro Basilicawithin the framework of the solemn act that marked the beginning of the leadership of the new pontiff. The person responsible for transmitting the message was the Secretary of the Interior, Rosa Icela Rodríguezwho headed the Mexican official delegation that attended the Vatican on behalf of the Government of Mexico.
“From the Basilica of San Pedro, the Pope Leo XIV I sent greetings to the president Claudia Sheinbaum And to the people of Mexico”, Said the official through her social networks, underlining the importance of the diplomatic encounter and the proximity between both nations.
During the reception to international delegations, Rodríguez reiterated the formal invitation of the Mexican president for the Pontiff to visit the country. He also highlighted the relevance of the new religious leader in social justice issues, pointing out that his “Support vocation to migrants and his closeness with indigenous communities It will be of great relevance to all peoples. ”
The visit of the Mexican official to the Vatican was previously announced by Sheinbaum herself. On May 12, the president confirmed that her government would send to the head of the Interior to represent Mexico In the historic ceremony and personally deliver the letter-invitation to the new Pope.
Pope Leo XIV
He Pope Leo XIVpreviously known as the cardinal Robert Prevostwas chosen on May 8 as the 267º Pontiff of the Catholic church, happening to Pope Francis.
With his designation, he became the First American Pope In history, an unprecedented fact that opens a new stage in the Vatican.
Pope Leo XIV receives invitations and prepares his first trip
He Pope Leo XIV He has already received Official invitations to visit different countries after the start of his pontificate. Among the first to extend an invitation are Ukraine, Brazil, Colombia, Spain and Mexico.
The President Volodimir Zelenski confirmed that he spoke with the pontiff and invited him to visit Ukrainein the middle of the conflict with Russia. For his part, the vice president of Brazil, Geraldo Alckminpersonally delivered a letter inviting the Pope to attend the COP30 Climate Summit In November, in Belémin the Amazon.
In Latin America, Mexico He also formalized his invitation through the Secretary of the Interior, Rosa Icela Rodríguezwho delivered the letter of the president Claudia Sheinbaum during the starting ceremony of the pontificate in the Vatican.
In addition, the Colombian Foreign Ministry reported that the president Gustavo Petro He will do the same during an audience with the Pope. In Europe, the Kings of Spain, Felipe VI and LetiziaThey personally congratulated the pontiff and expressed their desire to receive it soon in their country.
However, the First trip of Pope Leo XIV It could be a Nicea, Türkiyeat the end of May, in commemoration of the A thousand 700 anniversary of the council of Niceaan event that Pope Francis had planned before getting sick.
To confirm this trip by the Holy Seeit would mark the beginning of a new diplomatic and pastoral stage of the new leader of the Catholic church.
With approximately 111 million Catholic people, Mexico is the second country with more faithful in the world, only behind Brazil. The possibility of a future visit of Pope Leo XIV represents a fact of great relevance for millions of believers in both nations, which are among the first to extend an official invitation.