Papal inauguration of Pope Francis
The Inauguration of Pope Francis was a religious event held on March 19, 2013 in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. Holy Mass were celebrated by Pope Francis among political and religious leaders from around the world.[1][2][3] The crowd was estimated at 200,000.[4]
Homily
In his homily Pope Francis focused on the Solemnity of Saint Joseph that was celebrated . He stated that we all need to care for the earth and for each other as Joseph cared for Jesus and Mary. He set forth a plan of his own actions: "The pope, too, when exercising power, must enter ever more fully into that service, which has its radiant culmination on the cross."[4][5]
Ceremony
About half an hour before the mass, Francis toured the square in the Popemobile to greet the crowds. He stopped and left the Popemobile once to kiss a disabled man.
Pope Francis used a miter that he has had since he was bishop. His chasuble matched the miter. He used the same crosier that Benedict XVI used. In contrast to Benedict XVI's grand liturgical sense, Pope Francis kept the songs and liturgical actions simple.
The pope was given a lamb's wool shawl (pallium) and a Fisherman's Ring as symbols of his papacy. The ring was of gold-plated silver and not gold as his predessors had.[6]
According to a Vatican spokesperson between 150 000 and 200 000 people had turned out for the event.[6]
Official delegations
132 nations and international organizations sent delegations to the inauguracion. The delegations included reigning souvereigns and 31 head of states.[6]
List of official delegations (in alphabetical order, incomplete):
States
| Country | Flag | Official delegation | Titles | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andorra |  |
Joan Enric Vives Sicília | Co-Prince | |
| Armenia |  |
Serj Sargsyan | President | |
| Argentina |  |
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner | President | |
| Austria |  |
Heinz Fischer Werner Faymann Michael Spindelegger |
President Chancellor Vice-Chancellor |
|
| Belarus |  |
Anatoly Rubinov Sergey Aleinik |
Chair of the Council of the Republic Belarusian Ambassador to the Vatican |
[7] |
| Belgium |  |
Albert II Paola Elio Di Rupo |
King Queen Prime Minister |
|
| Brazil |  |
Dilma Rousseff | President | |
| Canada |  |
David Lloyd Johnston | Governor-General | |
| Chile |  |
Sebastian Pinera | President | |
| Ecuador | 
|
Rafael Correa | President | |
| France | 
|
Jean-Marc Ayrault | Prime Minister | |
| Germany | 
|
Winfried Kretschmann Angela Merkel Philipp Rösler Norbert Lammert |
President of the Bundesrat Chancellor Vice-Chancellor President of the Bundestag |
|
| Ireland |  |
Michael D. Higgins | President | |
| Italy | 
|
Giorgio Napolitano Mario Monti Laura Boldrini Piero Grasso |
President Prime Minister President of the Chamber of Deputies President of the Senate |
|
| Lithuania |  |
Dalia Grybauskaitė | President | |
| Luxembourg |  |
Henri Maria Teresa |
Grand Duke Grand Duchess |
|
| Mexico |  |
Enrique Peña Nieto | President | |
| Monaco |  |
Albert II Charlene |
Prince Princess |
|
| Netherlands |  |
Willem-Alexander Máxima Mark Rutte |
Prince of Orange Princess Prime Minister |
|
| Philippines | 
|
Jejomar Binay | Vice-President | [8] |
| Poland | 
|
Bronisław Komorowski Bogdan Borusewicz |
President Speaker in the Senate |
|
| Russia |  |
Sergey Naryshkin | Chairman of the State Duma | |
| Singapore | 
|
Grace Fu | Second Minister for Foreign Affairs | [9] |
| Spain |  |
Sofía Felipe Letizia Mariano Rajoy |
Queen Prince of Asturias Princess of Asturias Prime Minister |
[10] |
| Taiwan | 
|
Ma Ying-jeou | President | |
| Ukraine | 
|
Kostyantyn Hryshchenko | Deputy Prime Minister | [11] |
| United Kingdom | .svg){kind=small}
|
Charles | Prince of Wales | |
| United States | 
|
Joe Biden | Vice-President | |
| Zimbabwe |  |
Robert Mugabe | President |
Taiwan's representation was opposed by China, which has asked the Vatican to end the diplomatic relations with the state.[12]
Barack Obama's choice of Joe Biden (accompanied by Nancy Pelosi) was considered controversial by some due to their open dissent from Catholic teaching on abortion, Homosexual marriage, and other issues.[13]
International organizations
| Organization | Flag | Official delegation | Titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Union |  |
Herman Van Rompuy Jose Manuel Barroso |
President of the European Council President of the European Commission |
Religious figures
Eastern Christian Churches
| Church | Coat of arms, standard | Official delegation | Titles | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodox Church of Constantinople | Coat of arms of the Ecumenical Patriarch | Bartholomew I | Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople | |
| Armenian Apostolic Church |  |
Karekin II | Catholicos of All Armenians of the Armenian Apostolic Church | [14] |
The attendance of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is a historic first. The Patriarch has not attended a Papal inauguration since the Great Schism of 1054. In recognition of Bartholomew's historic gesture, the pope's installation ceremony included a singing of a passage from the gospel in Greek, rather than in Latin. Orthodox leaders state that the decision of Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople to attend the ceremony shows that the relationship between the Orthodox and Catholic churches is a priority of his, but they also note that Francis's "well-documented work for social justice and his insistence that globalization is detrimental to the poor" may have created a "renewed opportunity" for the two church communities to "work collectively on issues of mutual concern."[15][16][17]
See also
References
- ^ http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2013/03/live-inauguration-pope-francis/63263/
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21839069
- ^ Akin, Jimmy (17 march 2013). "9 things you need to know about Pope Francis's inaugural Mass". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b McElwee, Joshua J. (19 March 2013). "Francis at inaugural Mass: Pope must be servant, 'inspired by lowly'". National Catholic Reporter.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accesdate=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Full Text of Pope Francis's Homily
- ^ a b c Laura Smith-Spark et al: Thousands pack St. Peter's Square for Pope Francis' inauguration CNN, 19 March 2013
- ^ Belarusian delegation attends inauguration mass of Pope Francis, National State Television and Radio Company of the Republic of Belarus (19 March 2013)
- ^ http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/news/national/46796-vp-binay-to-attend-pope-francis-inauguration
- ^ http://www.mfa.gov.sg/content/mfa/media_centre/press_room/pr/2013/201303/press_20130319_02.html
- ^ http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2013031811648/european-royals-pope-francis-inauguration/
- ^ Hryschenko departs for Vatican to attend Pope Francis enthronement ceremony, Interfx-Ukraine (18 March 2013)
- ^ AFP:Pope receives world leaders in Vatican The Star 20 March, 2013
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/03/18/catholicos-of-all-armenians-to-attend-pope-francis-inaugural-mass/
- ^ Demacopoulos, George E., "The extraordinary historical significance of His Holiness' presence at Pope Francis' installation as Bishop of Rome", Archon News (Order of St. Andrew the Apostle), 19 March 2013, Retrieved 19 March 2013
- ^ "Papal inauguration: crowds gather for installation of Pope Francis". The Guardian. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
- ^ [2]
