Pope Francis Inaugurated as 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church

The new leader of the Catholic Church delivered his first homily as the 266th Pope amidst applause. Pope Francis, the world’s first Latin American Pope is now formally installed at the seat first held by St. Peter. The world’s first Jesuit Pope has just celebrated his inaugural mass to an approximately 340,000 Catholic devotees in St. Peter’s Square at Vatican City. Pope Francis is the former Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires in Argentina.

“The Good Shepherd charged Peter to feed his lambs and his sheep; today you succeed him as the bishop of this church.” Thus spoke a cardinal as the Holy Mass commenced at 8:30 GMT. This served to intone the rite of the Pope’s inauguration as the latest in a long line of successors to St. Peter’s post.

Embrace the world

The 76-year old Pope made a promise to protect God’s people, especially “the weakest, the poorest, and the least important” of his flock. And he appealed to the congregation to let go of hate, pride, and envy, and instead “serve one another with love and tenderness.”

Pope Francis also called on the leaders of the world to “shun destruction.” A total of 132 world leaders attended the mass along with the faithful. He asked not the just political leaders, but those who are in positions of power, to disallow death and destruction to define life in this world as humankind advances on to the future. He enumerated the means by which every single one of the 1.2 billion Catholics today can contribute – by loving and respecting the environment and every creature that lives.

A Jesuit’s vow and a Fisherman’s ring

Pope Francis has taken a vow of poverty as a Jesuit priest. He intends to fulfill these vows as Pope, saying that a Pontiff must be “inspired by lowly, concrete, and faithful service.” To mark the official start of his ministry, Pope Francis received the ring and pallium (lambswool strips) and received the vow of obedience from six cardinals. Pope Francis decided to shorten this part of the ceremony instead of involving all the cardinals.

The flock

People from all walks of life crowded at St. Peter’s Square to witness the historic event and to receive blessings from the new Pope himself who went on a brief tour of the square. Attired in the Papal white cassock, he kissed an infant and laid his hands on a person with disability. Pope Francis went amongst his people without using the Popemobile – another sign of informality that was first shown by the newly elected Pope Francis in the ceremonies that followed the Conclave.

World and religious leaders in attendance

Latin American leaders were in full force, with the President of Argentina leading the delegation. Also present were the Presidents of Chile and Brazil as well as the heads of state of Paraguay, Costa Rica, and Mexico. The controversial President of Zimbabwe was also in attendance, despite a travel ban to Europe which does not apply to Vatican City, an independent territory. US Vice-President Joe Biden, a Catholic, attended the ceremony. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was not in attendance.

The Eastern Catholic leaders based in Istanbul were present, led by the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I. And for the first time in history, the Chief Rabbi of Rome attended an inauguration of the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.