Vatican City (AsiaNews) - At 8.45 Pope Francis began a tour of St. Peter's Square and Via della Conciliazione to greet the faithful gathered. Instead the celebration begins at 9.30 am, from the tomb of St. Peter in the basilica, where the new Pope will receive the pallium and the fisherman's ring, symbols of his ministry.
Thousands of people had already invaded St. Peter's Square and Via della Conciliazione to attend mass at the beginning of the pontificate of Pope Francis. The gates were opened this morning at 6.30. The Holy See Press Office reports an expected influx of about 300 thousand people. Groups from all over Italy and across the world began arriving at the square in the early morning carrying banners, flags and signs. Among the first to arrive were groups from Communion and Liberation, the Community of Sant'Egidio and some Argentines, with the banner of St. Lorenzo, the football team of which Pope Francis is a fan. From Buenos Aires, the city where he was archbishop, comes the news that the Pope phoned the faithful gathered in the Plaza de Mayo, from where they will follow the live broadcast of the Mass: "Do not be afraid," he said repeating a famous motto John Paul II, "and do not forget your old bishop."
The beautiful
weather has astonished everyone: yesterday Rome was hit by heavy rains and strong
winds, while today the sun is shining in a cloudless sky. It must be said that
in the rest of Italy the weather forecast is of rain and snow.
More than 130 delegations are expected to attend mass from all over the world.
Among them are 31 heads of state, six reigning sovereigns, three crown princes
(including that of Bahrain), 11 heads of government. There are also 33
delegations from Christian Churches and denominations and for the first time
since the schism of 1054, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople,
Bartholomew I will attend a mass for the inauguration of the Petrine ministry.
There are also delegations from other religions: Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist,
Sikh, Jainists.