Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Francis called for all mankind to serve ‘the poorest, the weakest, the least important,’ during the inauguration Mass of his ministry as the 266th Pontiff on the feast day of St Joseph.

The new Pope, 76, called in his homily for ‘all men and women of goodwill’ to be ‘protectors of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment.’

“Let us not allow omens of destruction and death to accompany the advance of this world,” he said on Tuesday morning. “But to be ‘protectors,’ we also have to keep watch over ourselves! Let us not forget that hatred, envy and pride defile our lives. We must not be afraid of goodness or even tenderness!”

Pope Francis’ inauguration Mass was attended by a huge congregation in St Peter’s Square and watched by a vast television audience around the world, including in Scotland where our bishops have already written to him pledging ‘loving and loyal obedience.’

Although according to Church law, he officially became Pope—the first Jesuit and Latin American Pontiff, and the first Pope from a religious order in 150 years—the minute he accepted his election in the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday March 13, Pope Francis was formally inaugurated as Holy Father at the start of Tuesday’s Mass.

Argentinian President Cristina Kirchner joined other world leaders to attend the inauguration Mass. By the time of Communion, the Vatican said there were between 150,000 and 200,000 people present.

Pope’s homily

In his homily, Pope Francis made repeated reference to that fact it was the Feast of St Joseph, asking for prayers that he would be able to protect the Church like St Joseph protected Mary and Jesus, ‘discreetly, humbly and silently, but with an unfailing presence and utter fidelity, even when he finds it hard to understand.’

But more than anything, he said, Christians had to accept that the core concern of their lives must be Christ.

“Let us protect Christ in our lives, so that we can protect others, so that we can protect creation,” Pope Francis said.

Pilgrims

Before the solemn rites began, Pope Francis toured St Peter’ Square in an open-top Jeep, blessing the hundreds of thousands of people who arrived in St Peter’s Square as early as 4am to pray with him. He waved and, at one point, gave a thumbs up to the Faithful. He also kissed three babies held up to him and he climbed out of his vehicle to kiss a severely disabled man.

Among those in that huge audience present was Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, first among equals of the Eastern Orthodox, sat in a place of honour near the Papal altar. This was the first time since the Great Schism of 1054 that an ecumenical patriarch has attended a Papal installation Mass.

The UK was represented by the Duke of Gloucester and two cabinet ministers, Baroness Warsi and Ken Clarke.

Scottish bishops

An audience of millions also watched the ceremony on television, including the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, which was meeting in Edinburgh.

Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow, president of the conference, has written to the new Pope on behalf of the bishops to offer ‘our congratulations on your election as Pope.’

“We pledge to you our loving and loyal obedience,” the letter says.

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–        This story was reported in full in the March 22 print edition of the SCO.