First Orthodox Patriarch to attend papal investiture in 1000 years



 

Bartholomew I

THE Pope has urged princes, presidents, sheiks and thousands of ordinary people gathered for his installation mass late yesterday to protect the environment, the weakest and the poorest, mapping out a clear focus of his priorities as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.
The Argentine native is the first pope from Latin America and the first named for the 13th-century friar St Francis of Assisi, whose life's work was to care for nature, the poor and the most disadvantaged. Echoing the gentleness for which St Francis is known, the Pope said a little bit of tenderness can "open up a horizon of hope".
The Vatican said between 150,000 and 200,000 attended the mass. Francis was interrupted by applause several times during his homily, including when he spoke of the need to protect the environment, serve one another with love and not allow "omens of destruction", hatred, envy and pride to "defile our lives".
He said the role of the pope was to open his arms and protect all of humanity, but "especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important, those whom Matthew lists in the final judgment on love: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and those in prison".

 

 

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Pope Francis inauguration mass

Pope Francis speaks during his inauguration mass at St Peter's square at the Vatican. Photo: AFP

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''He must open his arms to protect all of God's people and embrace with tender affection the whole of humanity, especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important.''

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Those present included - according to the Vatican - delegations from 132 countries, six reigning sovereigns, 31 heads of state, 11 heads of government, plus 33 Orthodox and other Christian delegations, 16 members of Jewish delegations, and representatives from the Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and other faiths.
A less welcome guest was Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, whose presence required Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi to explain no one was invited but all were welcome. ''It must be made clear that no one has privileged status or will be refused,'' he said.

"We must open his arms to protect all of God's people": Pope Francis. Photo: AP

Francis has made an extraordinary start since his election last Wednesday; his warmth and informality winning Catholic hearts and suggesting he may be able to re-energise a church facing formidable challenges around the world.
He has consistently referred to himself as Bishop of Rome, rather than Pope, and declined the ermine-trimmed red cape beloved of Pope Benedict, saying: ''No thank you, Monsignor. You put it on instead. Carnival time is over!''
At almost every public appearance he has broken protocol - giving his security team a scare by impromptu mixing with the public. ''That's revolutionary, after the cloistered pontificate of Benedict,'' one senior Catholic said. ''He's a breath of fresh air.''
It was evident again at the inaugural Mass, before which he rode the popemobile on elaborate circuits of the square, smiling and blessing pilgrims and dismounting to kiss a disabled man.


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"Today, amid so much darkness, we need to see the light of hope and to be men and women who bring hope to others. To protect creation, to protect every man and every woman, to look upon them with tenderness and love, is to open up a horizon of hope, is to let a shaft of light break through the heavy clouds."
The Pope, 76, thrilled the crowd at the start of the mass by taking a long tour through the sun-drenched piazza and getting out of his jeep to bless a disabled man. It was a gesture from a man whose short papacy so far is becoming defined by such spontaneous forays into the crowd and concern for the disadvantaged.
Before the mass began, the Pope received the fisherman's ring symbolising the papacy and a wool stole symbolising his role as shepherd of his flock. He received vows of obedience from six cardinals, a potent symbol given that his predecessor, Benedict XVI, is still alive.
Some 132 official delegations attended, including more than six heads of state from Latin America. The Pope has made it clear he wants his pontificate to focus on the poor, a message that has resonance in a poverty-stricken region that counts 40 per cent of the world's Catholics.
In the VIP section was German Chancellor Angela Merkel, US Vice-President Joe Biden, Argentine President Cristina Kirchner, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, Prince Albert of Monaco and Bahrain Prince Sheik Abdullah bin Haman bin Isa Alkhalifa, among others. All told, six sovereign rulers, 31 heads of state, three princes and 11 heads of government attended.
The Pope directed his homily to them, saying: "I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political and social life, and all men and women of goodwill: let us be protectors of creation, protectors of God's plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment."
Among the religious VIPs attending was the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, Bartholomew I, who became the first patriarch from the Istanbul-based church to attend a papal investiture since the two branches of Christianity split nearly 1000 years ago. Also attending for the first time was the chief rabbi of Rome. Their presence underscores the broad hopes for ecumenical and interfaith dialogue in this new papacy, given the Pope's own work for improved relations and St Francis of Assisi.

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Taken from: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/reign-of-pope-francis-begins-with-grand-ceremony/story-e6frg6so-1226600987997