Pope Leo XIV is now granting apostolic blessings to the faithful around the world, a spiritual gesture that can be officially requested through the Vatican’s Apostolic Almoner’s Office.

Shortly after, the new pope steps onto the balcony, framed by red curtains, and delivers his first apostolic blessing, known as the “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and to the World”).

Tens of thousands of faithful Catholics gathered in St. Peter’s Square to watch Pope Leo XIV deliver the first Sunday blessing of his pontificate exactly at noon.

Yesterday, visibly frail but serene and fully aware, he stepped onto the Apostolic Palace balcony at St. Peter’s Square for the last time to impart his blessing and share words that now carry a ...

Then, too, he delivered a message of peace. Leo was picking up the papal tradition of offering a Sunday blessing at noon, but with some twists. Whereas his predecessors delivered the greeting from ...

the procedure for obtaining an apostolic blessing can be completed in two ways: in person at the offices of this department or through an online form. Pope Leo XIV speaks in front of the famous ...