VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Leo XIV took his first trip outside the Vatican on Saturday, heading about an hour's drive east of Rome for a visit to a Catholic shrine and stopping on the way back to pay respects at the tomb of his predecessor Francis.

Leo waved from the passenger side of a Volkswagen vehicle as he arrived at Rome's St. Mary Major Basilica. Entering the church to a few shouts of "Viva il papa" (Long live the pope), Leo walked slowly to Francis' tomb, laying a white flower on it.