<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today marks a sacred day for the globe's billion-plus Catholics with the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But for the scores of world leaders attending the event in the Vatican it presents a rare opportunity to pursue peace at a time when war rages in Europe and the Middle East</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pilgrims gathered in great number in St Peter's Square in honour of the new leader of the Catholic Church.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/mexican-naval-ship-crash-brooklyn-bridge-us/a05e517a-2e14-4093-92b4-46bccc55e9a9" rel="" target="" title="Two dead after Mexican Navy sailing ship hits Brooklyn Bridge in New York City"><strong><span>Two dead after Mexican Navy sailing ship hits Brooklyn Bridge in New York City</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australians present included South Australian farmer David Greenslade and his partner Tracy Pel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I said to all the boys in the Mount Barker footy club, I'm heading over to Rome, and I might as well go and meet the Pope. They said you'll never do that and well, yes I did," he told 9News.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One Victorian family adjusted its European holiday to be in town.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/pope-inauguration-anthony-albanese-world-leaders/c0edb77e-17ff-44e0-8da8-2d92b17cf68f" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We just thought thought it was a moment in history we don't want to miss," Nadia Edwards said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/weather-warning-nsw-central-coast/0dcd643e-afbb-4731-aa85-faa7a5ecf218"><strong><span>Flood warning as rain and wind hit parts of NSW coast</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ahead of the papal mass, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited a Rome chapel run by the Australian Catholic Church.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There's such joy in the city at the moment watching pilgrims come up the via Conciliazione," Greg Bennet, the Bishop of Sale said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As much as the inauguration of Pope Leo is a spiritual event, for the world leaders attending it's a rare opportunity to pursue peace and resolution on persistent points of conflict.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>US Vice President JD Vance leads the American delegation having met Pope Leo's predecessor the day before he died</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kings and queens, prime ministers and presidents are also attending.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Albanese is to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after the inauguration to resurrect free trade talks with the EU.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're up for a deal, but not any deal at any price. We're up for a deal that's in Australia's national interest," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think what this demonstrates is that the world is willing to trade around the US rather than having to trade with the US," Nationals leader David Littleproud said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Diplomatic speed-dating will also include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The fate of his nation and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/oscar-jenkins-australian-sentenced-to-13-years-in-russian-prison-for-fighting-in-ukraine/d18e4c72-5592-41ac-a79a-0b5766449b3a" rel="" target="" title="Australian prisoner of war Oscar Jenkins is in the balance."><span>Australian prisoner of war Oscar Jenkins is in the balance.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Jenkins, a former teacher, was fighting for Ukraine when he was caught by Russia, with Vladimir Putin's regime sentencing him to 13 years in jail.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We consider this to be a sham trial and we don't believe Mr Jenkins should be treated this way," Queensland Senator Murray Watt said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Let's be very clear, this sentence by Russia is an outrage," Albanese said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There's hope Jenkins may be part of a prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia.</span></div></div>