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From CNN.com:
Quote:VATICAN CITY (CNN) — Pope Benedict XVI was formally installed at a Mass Sunday outside St. Peter’s Basilica in front of an audience of hundreds of thousands and millions of others watching on television.During his homily, the new pontiff said he wished to reach out to Jews and “believers and non-believers alike” and asked for prayers from the St. Peter’s Square onlookers as he assumed “this enormous task.”
“Let us do all we can to pursue the path toward the unity you have promised,” he said. “Grant that we may be one flock and one shepherd. Do not allow your net to be torn. Help us to be servants of unity.” (Full story)
In one of the most symbolic moments, Benedict was given his Fisherman’s Ring and a woolen pallium or shawl — both symbols of his papal authority.
The ring is emblazoned with an image of Peter casting his fishing nets and was traditionally used to seal apostolic letters.
The formal inauguration of the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger came in a tradition-steeped ceremony that officially launched the pontificate of the 265th leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Wearing golden vestments and clutching his pastoral staff, Benedict began the ceremony by walking into the area under St. Peter’s Basilica where St. Peter is believed to be buried, paying homage to the first pope and blessing the tomb with incense as a choir chanted.
Priests bearing Benedict’s Fisherman’s Ring and the woolen shawl led off a procession of cardinals out the basilica and onto the steps leading to the square.
The crowds applauded as Benedict emerged from the basilica to the chant of the Litany of Saints.
There were fewer people than the 3 million who flocked to Rome for the funeral of Pope John Paul II on April 8, but the square filled up and overflowed onto the Via della Concilazione leading to it. Many people toted banners and flags — including from Benedict’s native Germany.
More than 350,000 people — including up to 100,000 Germans — and hundreds of state and religious leaders from around the world gathered in and around the square, the Vatican said. (Full story)
Benedict XVI said that his predecessor Pope John Paul II was “at home” among the saints in heaven, but stopped short of calling for his canonization.
After his death on April 2, there have been popular calls, as well as calls from some prelates, for John Paul to be made a saint swiftly. Vatican officials have made clear it would be up to the pope to speed up the process and override the normal five-year waiting period for the process to begin.
Benedict, speaking during his installation homily, said that on John Paul’s death, “we could call upon the saints from every age — his friends, his brothers and sisters in the faith — knowing that they would form a living procession to accompany him into the next world, and into the glory of God.”
“We knew that his arrival was awaited. Now we know that he is among his own and is truly at home,” he said, as the crowd of tens of thousands broke into applause.
The broadcasting of the ceremony all over the world, on television, online and on the radio, befits a man who vowed Saturday to emulate his predecessor’s embracing of the media.
“It is my desire to continue this fruitful work which was started by Pope John Paul the Second,” Benedict told an audience of members of the media Saturday, adding he would “confront this new epoch-making era of mass communications and use it to the benefit of the gospel.”
Like other proceedings at the Vatican in recent days, including John Paul’s funeral, the Mass saw heavy security.
Italian police said up to 7,000 security personnel were participating, including those protecting VIP delegations.
The Italian civil aviation authorities said there would be a no-fly zone over Rome, covering a 5-mile radius around the Vatican, between 8 a.m. (2 a.m. ET) and 4 p.m. (10 a.m. ET). Rome’s Ciampino airport was closed to commercial traffic until noon Sunday.
Emergency services on hand included 100 doctors, 100 nurses, 50 medical first-response teams, 80 ambulances and eight first-aid tents.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, and Spain’s King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia were on the guest list. Lebanese President Emile Lahoud was due at the ceremony, as were numerous Latin American leaders.
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, President Bush’s brother, led the U.S. delegation, which included Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele; Knights of Columbus CEO Carl A. Anderson; Helen Alvary, an associate professor of law at Catholic University of America; and Frank Hanley, president emeritus of the International Union of Operating Engineers.
For the first time “at least since the Reformation,” Britain’s Archbishop of Canterbury was to attend such an event, the Church of England’s Web site said. Rowan Williams will also lead “representatives from the Anglican delegation in Rome” in a brief audience with the pope Monday.
Benedict invited Rome’s chief rabbi, Riccardo Segni, but he could not attend because Sunday is the first day of Passover.
Since Tuesday, when he was elected pope, Benedict has made clear he would continue to reach out to leaders of other faiths, building on the inter-faith work of his predecessor.
What do you think of the new pope? Personally I think he’s pretty conservative but I think he will do a good job. He is quite a bit older than John Paul II was, so he probably won’t serve quite as long of a term.
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