Pope Leo XIV prepares to celebrate his first Corpus Christi Mass as bishop of Rome with a public appearance at St John Lateran Basilica in Vatican City

For many Catholics, Corpus Christi is one of the most cherished celebrations of the liturgical year.

And this year, it’s a particularly significant moment for Pope Leo XIV.

As the new bishop of Rome, he’s preparing to celebrate the solemn feast of the Body and Blood of Christ — and he’s taking the tradition beyond Vatican walls.

Stepping Out of the Vatican for a Major Feast

On Sunday, June 22, Pope Leo XIV will mark his first Corpus Christi as pontiff in one of the few occasions where the pope leads a public celebration outside the Vatican.

According to tradition, the celebration will begin with a Mass at St. John Lateran Basilica, the pope’s cathedral in his role as bishop of Rome.

Following the Mass, Pope Leo is also expected to make an appearance at St. Mary Major Basilica, another beloved Marian site in the city.

Vatican Keeps Procession Details Vague

While the Vatican’s press office has confirmed that the Eucharistic procession will follow Via Merulana — the route that connects the two basilicas — it hasn’t said how Pope Leo will make the journey.

That’s sparked a bit of curiosity and speculation among the faithful.

Will he walk the entire route like Pope Francis did in his first year? Or will he opt for a more practical method like his predecessors? The Vatican’s official statement left the door open to several possibilities.

A Look Back at How Popes Have Marked the Feast

In past years, each pope has brought his own touch to Corpus Christi celebrations.

When St. John Paul II was ailing in 2004, he made the procession seated in the popemobile.

His successor, Benedict XVI, rode along slowly on his knees in a white vehicle the following year, surrounded by crowds holding candles and praying along the way.

Then came Pope Francis, who chose a more humble path in his first year.

He walked behind the Blessed Sacrament, much to everyone’s surprise — a gesture of solidarity with the faithful that touched many hearts.

Later, Francis made another shift. Since 2014, he stopped walking in the procession and began appearing directly at St. Mary Major.

He also took the celebration out into the city’s more marginalized neighborhoods, aiming to bring the feast to communities that often feel overlooked.

What to Expect This Year from Pope Leo XIV

While we don’t yet know whether Pope Leo will walk, ride, or appear directly at the basilica, his participation in this traditional Roman celebration is already creating anticipation.

It will be a moment to watch, not just for the ceremonial significance, but also for the tone it sets for his papacy moving forward.

What’s clear is that Pope Leo XIV is embracing one of the Church’s most sacred traditions and stepping into the streets of Rome with the faithful — a gesture that continues the legacy of his predecessors while beginning to shape his own.