Pope Leo XIV Holds First Mass After Conclave (Live Updates)

By: bitcoin ethereum news|2025/05/10 00:45:05

Topline Pope Leo XIV, the first American leader of the Catholic Church, previously known as Robert Francis Prevost, returned to the Sistine Chapel the day after his election to deliver a mass for the College of Cardinals, where he described his role as both a cross to bear and a blessing and urged church leaders to make themselves “small.” Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was elected to be the new pope, poses for a photo at the end of ... More the consistory where Pope Francis elevated 21 new cardinals in St. Peter’s Square at The Vatican, Sept. 30, 2023. Key Facts Leo XIV, the American-born polyglot who spent much of his career in Peru, spoke briefly in English Friday morning to an audience of cardinals before delivering the rest of his homily in Italian. “Through the ministry of Peter, you have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission,” Leo XIV said in English, addressing the cardinals who elected him, whom he urged to “walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community of friends of Jesus.” In Italian, Leo XIV delivered a homily that suggested some of his priorities as pontiff, in which he warned against “practical atheism,” lamenting that Jesus is sometimes “reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman” and that “there are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent,” according to a translation from the Vatican. Leo XIV criticized the prioritization of “technology, money, success, power, or pleasure” over faith and said there are settings where “missionary outreach is desperately needed” to reach “ordinary people,” echoing his decades of work as a missionary abroad. The new pope praised his predecessor, Francis, whom Leo XIV said “taught us so many times, we are called to bear witness to our joyful faith in Jesus the Saviour.” He urged cardinals to make themselves “small” and said “all those in the Church who exercise a ministry of authority” should “move aside so that Christ may remain.” What’s On Pope Leo Xiv’s Schedule In His First Days As Pope? On his first weekend as pope, Leo XIV will meet with cardinals Saturday and make his first public appearance Sunday to deliver the Regina Caeli prayer from St. Peter’s Basilica, according to a schedule published by the Vatican. On Monday, Leo XIV will meet with members of the international press, and on Friday, May 16, he will meet with members of the Vatican’s diplomatic corps. Leo XIV’s inaugural mass will be held May 18 in St. Peter’s Square at 10 a.m. Vatican time, and he will hold his first general audience May 21. What Were Leo Xiv’s First Words As Pope? “Peace be with you! Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave His life for the flock of God. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you,” according to a translation of Leo XIV’s speech from the Vatican. What We Know About Pope Leo Xiv Leo XIV, 69, was born in Chicago and most recently served as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America under his predecessor, Pope Francis. He was made a cardinal by Francis, and Vatican experts have said he similarly values Francis’ championing of the poor. He has, however, drawn criticism for his handling of priests accused of sexual abuse. (Read more about Leo XIV here.) What Has Trump Said About Pope Leo Xiv? President Donald Trump weighed in on the selection, posting his congratulations to Leo XIV on Truth Social, adding: “It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!” Speaking to reporters Thursday, Trump said he was “a little bit surprised, but very happy” the pope is American, and said he hopes to meet Pope Leo XIV and that the Vatican has already reached out. How Have Other American Leaders Reacted? Vice President JD Vance congratulated Leo XIV in a post on X, saying: “I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!” Former President Joe Biden also sent well wishes, saying on X: “May God bless Pope Leo XIV of Illinois. Jill and I congratulate him and wish him success.” Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama said on X they were sending “congratulations to a fellow Chicagoan,” and added: “This is a historic day for the United States, and we will pray for him as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church and setting an example for so many, regardless of faith.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement on Leo XIV being named pope: “this is a moment of profound significance for the Catholic Church, offering renewed hope and continuity amid the 2025 Jubilee Year to over a billion faithful worldwide ... The United States looks forward to deepening our enduring relationship with the Holy See with the first American pontiff.” How Did They Announce When A Pope Was Been Chosen? After voting, the ballots were burned, and chemicals were added to produce either black smoke—indicating no pope has been elected—or white smoke—meaning a pope was been chosen—from the Sistine Chapel. Vatican watchers gathered to watch what color the smoke was after every vote. Prevost received the necessary two-thirds majority vote to be elected pope Thursday afternoon, which likely occurred on the fourth ballot, following two failed ballets Thursday morning and one failed ballot Wednesday. Bells tolled as the white smoke poured out from the Sistine Chapel, where thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square and chanted, “Long live the pope!” Cardinal Dominique Mamberti announced Prevost—who took the papal name Leo XIV—as pope on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday evening, about an hour after white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel. Who Were The Leading Contenders To Be Elected Pope? There was no clear frontrunner to win the papacy, Vatican experts said, though some of the cardinals who were considered to be prime candidates included Italy’s Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state who is considered more moderate than Francis, and the Philippines’ Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, who draws comparisons to Francis for his liberal-leaning stances and his championing of the poor. Parolin and Tagle were the two leading contenders on various betting sites, including Polymarket and Kalshi, as bettors waged millions on the papal election. Other cardinals who were considered possible candidates included several from Italy— Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Matteo Zuppi—as well as Congo’s Fridolin Ambongo, Hungary’s Peter Erdo, Ghana’s Peter Turkson and France’s Jean-Marc Aveline. Why Was This Conclave Important? Papal experts said the conclave could determine whether the Catholic Church continues down the path laid by Francis to become more progressive, or whether a more conservative successor could be chosen and potentially roll back some of Francis’ reforms. Francis was notable, and divisive, for his stances striking a more welcoming tone toward LGBTQ+ Catholics and women in church leadership roles, which won some global praise but angered conservative critics. Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Sweden said some cardinals wanted to elect a successor “who can follow in the footsteps of Francis. Some others said, ‘No, no. Not at all,’” The New York Times reported, while Italian conservative Cardinal Camillo Ruini said there was a “need to return the church to Catholics.” Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, said in a homily Wednesday the new pope would face a “difficult and complex turning point in history,” stating he prayed for a pope who leads “for the good of the church and of humanity.” How Did The Conclave Work? While secluded from the outside world, cardinals under the age of 80 cast four votes each day until a candidate receives a two-thirds majority. The process began Wednesday afternoon with mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, after which cardinals proceeded to the Sistine Chapel to begin the conclave. On days no successor was chosen, cardinals spent the night in Vatican guesthouses to resume voting the next day. Each cardinal was assigned a desk affixed with papers that say, “Eligo in summum pontificem,” or, “I choose as supreme pontiff.” Surprising Fact Some cardinals watched the movie “Conclave,” the papal drama that won an Oscar just two months ago, while prepping for the real thing, Politico reported, citing a cleric involved in the conclave who said some cardinals found the film “remarkably accurate.” Viewership of “Conclave” spiked 283% within a day of Francis’s death, according to Luminate. Why Did Day One Of The Conclave Take So Long? Wednesday’s vote took longer than most experts had predicted, as the first release of smoke took an hour longer than the first black smoke in 2013 during the conclave that elected Pope Francis. Mathew Schmalz, editor of the Journal of Global Catholicism and College of the Holy Cross religious studies professor, told BBC News the lengthy wait for the first release of smoke may have been because of the large number of cardinals from around the world meeting one another for the first time, speculating the conclave could take one day longer than usual. Though it’s unclear why Wednesday’s vote took so long, Schmalz told the BBC he is “getting kind of nervous” about whether the conclave may have run into issues that will need to be smoothed out in the coming days. The conclave of 133 electors is the largest and most globally diverse in history, greater than the 115 electors that participated in the 2005 and 2013 conclaves, which may also cause a longer time for the vote. Key Background Francis died at age 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, following a bout of health issues, which led to his longest hospital stay while pope. Francis was hospitalized earlier this year for bilateral pneumonia and bronchitis, and Vatican doctors said he died of cerebral stroke and irreversible heart failure. Further Reading These Cardinals Are The Top Candidates To Succeed Pope Francis (Forbes) The Church Is More Global Than Ever. What Does That Mean for the Next Pope? (New York Times) Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/05/09/leo-xiv-delivers-mass-on-first-full-day-as-pope-urges-missionary-work-to-uplift-ordinary-people–live-updates/

What is XRP: XRP is a digital asset built for fast, low-cost international payments. It runs on the XRP Ledger and is used by Ripple for its On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service. Unlike Bitcoin, XRP settles transactions in 3-5 seconds with near-zero fees.Why is XRP Dropping: XRP is not actively dropping, but it is struggling to rise. On the monthly chart, XRP has seen six consecutive months of decline. Currently, the price faces an additional supply wall at $1.45. About 1.24 billion XRP were bought in that range, and those holders sell when the price approaches, creating selling pressure that prevents a recovery.Will XRP Go Up: Potentially yes. XRP is trading near $1.43 and showing its best weekly performance since September 2025. If the price breaks above the $1.45 resistance, analysts expect a move toward $1.90, supported by strong institutional demand.Is XRP a Good Investment: The answer is not simple. Short-term traders may see opportunity in the coming volatility spike. Long-term investors face a bigger question that depends on one key regulatory event. However, the data reveals a surprising signal that most retail buyers are missing right now. To understand whether XRP is a smart buy or a trap at $1.43, you will need to read the full analysis below.What is XRP? A Digital Asset for Global Settlement

Before analyzing the charts, it is crucial to understand the asset in question. What is XRP? Unlike Bitcoin, which was designed as a decentralized digital gold, XRP operates on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). It was created to facilitate fast, low-cost international payments. Traditional bank transfers take days and incur high fees. XRP transactions settle in 3-5 seconds, costing fractions of a penny.

Ripple, the company associated with XRP, uses this asset for its "On-Demand Liquidity" (ODL) service. Banks and financial institutions use ODL to source liquidity during cross-border transactions without pre-funding accounts. This utility is the primary driver for institutional interest. Recently, the network hit a milestone of over 8 million active wallets, signaling growing usage despite recent price stagnation . Furthermore, Ripple is proactively preparing for the future, releasing a four-stage roadmap to make the XRPL "quantum-resistant," aiming to secure the ledger against future quantum computing threats by 2028 .

XRP Price Analysis: The Battle for $1.45

The XRP price trend over the last month tells a story of exhaustion followed by cautious recovery. On the monthly chart, XRP experienced six consecutive months of decline. However, April shows signs of a bottoming process. Weekly charts reinforce this view: after four weeks of lower closes, the last two weeks have seen small rebounds.

According to data from April 22, 2026, XRP is trading at approximately $1.44. Over the last seven days, XRP has outperformed both Bitcoin and Ethereum, rising 6.7% while the broader market rose only 3.2%. Spot trading volume surged 23% to $3.79 billion, and derivative markets saw $40 billion in futures volume on a single day.

Despite this, the price remains 60% below its July 2025 high of $3.65. The current technical picture shows a "low volatility grind" higher. The 20-day EMA is at $1.3924, and the 50-day EMA is at $1.4119, both acting as support . However, the immediate hurdle is the $1.45 resistance level. This price point has rejected every rally attempt in 2026.

Why is XRP Dropping? And Will XRP Go Up?

The primary reason for the recent "drop" (or lack of upward momentum) is not active selling, but rather the "supply wall." Data indicates that roughly 1.24 billion XRP tokens were purchased by investors in the $1.45 to $1.47 range. These investors have been waiting months to "break even." Every time the price approaches $1.45, these holders sell to exit their positions, creating a massive wall that retail buying cannot easily absorb.

However, the underlying momentum is shifting. Analysts suggest a xrp volatility spike imminent because the absorption capacity of buyers is increasing. Historically, when exchange reserves are high but the price refuses to drop significantly, it signals that buyers are absorbing the supply. The price has held above $1.39 despite the overhang, which is a sign of relative strength.

So, will XRP go up? Yes, potentially. But it needs a catalyst, if the price closes a daily candle above $1.45. If that happens, the next targets are $1.60 to $1.65, and eventually $1.90 .

XRP Exchange Netflow and XRP ETF Netflow: A Tale of Two Markets

The current market dynamic is best understood by looking at two opposing data streams: XRP Exchange netflow and XRP ETF flows.

Exchange Dynamics (Retail / Whales):

Data shows a complex pattern of "large inflows and increasing reserves." Recently, a Ripple-associated wallet moved 75 million XRP (approx. $108 million) to Coinbase. This initially looks like a dump, but context matters. These transfers are likely to provide liquidity for Ripple’s ODL business, not necessarily spot market selling. However, the result is that exchange reserves have climbed to 2.76 billion XRP .

The Good News: While reserves are high, the rate of increase is slowing. Specifically, "whale" transfers to exchanges have dropped 98% from their April 11 peak. The Binance reserve has slightly decreased from 27.7 to 27.6 billion. The aggressive selling from large holders appears to have stopped.

Institutional Dynamics (ETF):

While whales were sending coins to exchanges, institutions were buying XRP ETF products. XRP ETF net flow is strongly positive.

US-listed XRP ETFs recorded four consecutive days of inflows totaling $38.86 million recently .The weekly inflow for mid-April hit $119.6 million, a multi-month high .Cumulative net inflows stand at $12.8 billion, with Assets Under Management (AUM) at roughly $10.8 billion.Analyzing the Divergence: Why Both Flows Are Positive

It seems contradictory that exchange reserves are high (suggesting selling) while ETFs are buying (suggesting buying). However, this phenomenon reveals the current market structure.

Different Investor Profiles: The exchange inflows likely come from short-term traders, market makers, or Ripple itself providing ODL liquidity. These are "hot" coins ready to be sold. The ETF inflows represent "sticky" capital. Institutions buying ETFs are typically long-term holders (LTHs) or asset managers who do not day-trade. They are removing liquidity from the spot market by buying through custodians.The "De-risking" Trade: Sophisticated funds might be engaging in basis trading. They buy the ETF (taking a long position) while simultaneously shorting XRP futures or selling spot inventory to capture the funding rate. This keeps the price stable while volume increases.Absorption: The most likely scenario is that the market is simply absorbing the excess supply. The fact that the price is stable ($1.43) and not collapsing to $1.20 despite 2.76 billion coins sitting on exchanges is a massive win for the bulls. The ETF inflows are acting as a sponge, soaking up the selling pressure from the ODL wallets.The Regulatory Catalyst: The SEC and the CLARITY Act

Fundamentally, the recent price action cannot be separated from regulation. For years, the primary answer was the SEC lawsuit. That narrative is dying.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently praised SEC Chair Paul Atkins as "a breath of fresh air and sanity" . This regulatory thaw is critical. The SEC is reportedly considering dropping the long-standing lawsuit, and five XRP ETF applications are awaiting review.

The major catalyst on the horizon is the CLARITY Act. A Senate markup is expected before the end of April. Standard Chartered analysts project that if the bill advances, it could unlock $4 to $8 billion in institutional flows . Polymarket gives the bill a 60-66% chance of passing in 2026. If the CLARITY Act classifies XRP as a non-security (commodity), the institutional floodgates will open, likely overwhelming the $1.45 supply wall instantly.

Is XRP a Good Investment in 2026?

Given all this data, is XRP a good investment? The answer depends entirely on your risk tolerance and time horizon.

The Bull Case (Why it is a good investment): The risk/reward ratio is asymmetrical to the upside. The price is near multi-year lows relative to its utility. Whale selling has stopped, ETF demand is rising, and the network is expanding (8 million wallets, quantum resistance roadmap). If the CLARITY Act passes, XRP could realistically trade between $1.60 and $1.80 in the short term, with a potential run to $3.00+ if the lawsuit is officially dropped.The Risk Case (Why it is NOT a good investment): There is a clear resistance wall at $1.45. If the CLARITY Act fails or is delayed past May (due to midterm election dynamics), the "buy the rumor, sell the news" dynamic could reverse. If the price fails to break $1.45 and loses support at $1.33, a drop back to $1.15 is technically possible .

Verdict: XRP is a speculative buy for traders looking for a volatility spike. It is a hold for current investors. For new investors, it is only a good investment if you believe in regulatory clarity within the next 30 days. Technically, waiting for a confirmed break above $1.55 (to avoid the fakeout) is safer than buying at $1.43.

FAQ

Q: Will XRP go up if the CLARITY Act passes?

A: Yes, historically. Analysts predict that if the CLARITY Act passes, signaling that XRP is a commodity, it would remove the regulatory overhang. This could trigger a surge in institutional buying, pushing the price from the current $1.43 range to test the $1.80 - $2.00 resistance levels quickly.

Q: Why is XRP dropping when Bitcoin is going up?

A: XRP has specific supply dynamics. Unlike Bitcoin, which has a fixed supply issuance, XRP faces periodic sell-pressure from Ripple's treasury wallets used to fund ODL (liquidity) services. Additionally, the $1.45 "break-even" wall causes XRP to drop relative to BTC when short-term traders exit.

Q: Is a volatility spike imminent for XRP?

A: Yes. The Bollinger Bands on the daily chart are squeezing. The price is stuck between support at $1.33 and resistance at $1.45. Historically, when XRP volume surges 23% in a week (as it did on April 21), it precedes a violent move. The direction depends on whether the $1.45 resistance breaks.

Q: What is the XRP ETF netflow status?

A: As of late April 2026, XRP ETFs are seeing positive netflows. The US ETFs recorded a single week inflow of $119.6 million in mid-April. Cumulative inflows are strong at $12.8 billion, indicating that institutions are accumulating during this dip, which is a long-term bullish signal for price stabilization.

Q: Is XRP a good investment for beginners?

A: XRP is less volatile than "meme coins" but more volatile than Bitcoin. For beginners, it is a moderate-risk investment. Its value is tied to real utility (bank payments). However, beginners should wait to see if the price can close a weekly candle above $1.55 before entering, to avoid buying into the current resistance wall.

Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes, or is intended to constitute, investment advice. Trading cryptocurrencies carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Always do your own research.

About WEEX

Founded in 2018, WEEX has developed into a global crypto exchange with over 6.2 million users across more than 150 countries. The platform emphasizes security, liquidity, and usability, providing over 1,200 spot trading pairs and offering up to 400x leverage in crypto futures trading. In addition to the traditional spot and derivatives markets, WEEX is expanding rapidly in the AI era — delivering real-time AI news, empowering users with AI trading tools, and exploring innovative trade-to-earn models that make intelligent trading more accessible to everyone. Its 1,000 BTC Protection Fund further strengthens asset safety and transparency, while features such as copy trading and advanced trading tools allow users to follow professional traders and experience a more efficient, intelligent trading journey.

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TL; DR