WOW! What an experience of a lifetime! I have just returned from St. Peter's Square and the Mass for the installation of Franceso I as Pope and Bishop of Rome. The photo above is the cover of the booklet which was distributed to everyone who attended the Mass, including the thousands of people who lined the Via della Conciliazione, the main street that leads to St. Peter's Square. Such Missals are specially printed for major celebrations of the liturgy in St. Peter's Basilica.
I can kick myself for not taking my IPhone to take photos. I was seated in the sixth row directly in front of the diplomatic corps who were seated on the steps of the basilica. I was so close to what was happening that I could smell the incense as the Pope was incensing the altar. I was also only several feet away from the Pope as he emerged before the Mass on the Popemobile to circle St. Peter's Square. It was thrilling to see the reception he received as he moved through the thousands of people filling the Square. His ride through the Square was almost 30 minutes, since the Popemobile went far and wide through the fenced off areas throughout the Square. He certainly did not miss many people, except for those who were crowded onto the Via della Conciliazione. It was truly something to behold.
The other minor sight to behold was me wearing a Jesuit cassock. It was a first for me. I had to go to the Jesuit Curia (headquarters) to borrow one, since priests needed to be in cassocks to distribute Communion. While I was at the Curia, I happened to run into the Provinical of Argentina who met with the then Cardinal Jorge Borgoglio last Fall, when he was named Provincial. It was a happy coincidence for him to be in Rome for "new Provincials' school" at the Curia at this time and for me to meet him, as a Jesuit who had been associated with the Holy Father.
Now that I am "back to work" I will post later today more photos from Assisi. They may not be of today's Mass, but they are in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, from whom the Pope takes much inspiration.
Viva la Papa!
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