VATICAN CITY – Pope Leo XIV celebrated a private Mass on Sunday near the tomb of St. Peter, before he was to deliver his first Sunday noon blessing from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The Vatican said the pope was joined by the head of his Augustinian order, the Rev. Alejandro Moral Anton. The Mass occurred in the grottoes underneath St. Peter’s, the traditional burial place of St. Peter, the apostle who is considered the be the first pope.

The area, which is normally open to the public, also contains the tombs of past popes, including Pope Benedict XVI.

With still an hour to go before Leo was to appear to the public, St. Peter’s Square was filing up with pilgrims, well-wishers and the curious, joined by multiple marching bands that made grand entrances into the square.

Leo on Saturday prayed before the tomb of Pope Francis, located across town at the St. Mary Major Basilica.

The 69-year-old Chicago-born missionary was elected 267th pope on Thursday, the first American pope. He appeared to the world from the same loggia, offering a message of peace and unity.

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