Why Queen Letizia of Spain Is One of the Only Woman Who Wore White to Pope Leo’s Inauguration

Why Queen Letizia Wore a Bridal-White Gown and Veil to the Pope's Inauguration

Pope Leo XIV was inaugurated this Sunday in Vatican City, and royals and political leaders from across the world traveled to celebrate the moment.

On Sunday, May 18, 2025, Pope Leo XIV's enthronement Mass was held at St Peter's Basilica. For the occasion, several political and royal figures had made the move and a detail had been made about some queens. Indeed, some were dressed in white, others in black.

Why Queen Letizia of Spain Is One of the Only Woman Who Wore White to Pope Leo’s Inauguration

Pope Leo XIV’s “call for peace inspires us, encourages us, and reflects the deep wishes and feelings of the Spanish people,” the Spanish royal couple wrote.

Three weeks after the funeral of Pope Francis , St. Peter’s Square of Rome has hosted the ceremony of enthronement of Pope Leo XIV , with which begins his Pontificate. Kings, queens, princesses and leaders from all over the world have attended the Mass. On behalf of Spain they have come, Don Felipe and Doña Letizia , dressed in white, as well as several members of the government, including the First Vice President and Minister of Finance, María …

St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican has once again been filled with faithful to celebrate the Mass that marks the beginning of the Pontificate of Leo XIV, the new Pope of Rome. Hundreds of faithful wanted to be present at such an important event for the Catholic Church and, among them and representing our country, Letizia and Philip VI did not want to miss the occasion. The kings, who traveled to the Vatican a few days ago for the funeral of Pope …

At the opening Mass of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate, held on May 18, 2025 in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, a group of women stood out for their white clothing, an exception to the rigorous Vatican dress code that requires women to wear black in the presence of the Pope. What is the ‘privilege of white’ and why few women can wear it before the Pope? This privilege, known as the “privilege of white” , is a tradition reserved to certain sovereigns an…