In line with society’s “lack of faith,” Pope Leo XIV stated that the Church must be a “beacon that illuminates the dark nights” in his first homily in the Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, May 9.

The first American pontiff cited that other securities such as “technology, money, success, power, or pleasure,” are now being preferred over the Christian faith, and that Christianity is now seen as “absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent.”

“These are contexts where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied,” said Pope Leo XIV.

“Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed,” he added.

Sharing his Mass of Thanksgiving with the College of Cardinals, he further called for the Church authority to “make oneself small” so they could “see, know, and glorify the Almighty clearly.”

On May 8, Robert Francis Prevost gave his first address as Pope Leo XIV from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he opened his papacy with a declaration that “God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail.”

“We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, dialogue, always open to receive, like this, square with its open arms,” the newly-elected pontiff called, emphasizing the need to overcome divisions.

The Pope will have his first inaugural mass on May 18, 4 p.m. (Philippine time) at the St. Peter’s Square to mark the beginning of his pontificate, the Holy See Press Office announced May 9.