Pope Francis inauguration Mass celebrated in Vatican - BBC News

19 March 2013 Last updated at 02:46 ET Nuns were queuing early outside St Peter's Square at the Vatican Continue reading the main story Break with past Profile: Pope Francis World reaction The Pope's inbox Crowds are gathering at the Vatican in Rome, with up to a million expected for the inauguration Mass of Pope Francis. Political and religious leaders from around the world are also attending the Mass in St Peter's Square, marking the official start of his papacy. The first pontiff from the Americas, Francis has suggested he will take a more modest approach than predecessors. Francis was elected by a conclave of cardinals last week to take over from Benedict XVI. Benedict became the first pontiff in 600 years to abdicate last month. Citing his age, 85, he said he could no longer continue in the post. Papal ring The BBC's Katya Adler, at the Vatican, says nuns, priests and papal tourists were queuing for hours early on Tuesday, with some pushing and squabbling as they waited for police to open the barricades to St Peter's Square. Argentinean leader Cristina Fernandez was the first foreign head of state to be received by the Pope Pope Francis is scheduled to leave his temporary residence at Casa Santa Marta shortly before 09:00 (08:00 GMT) and tour St Peter's Square on a papal vehicle for about 15 minutes. He will then go into St Peter's Basilica to don his vestments and stop at the tomb of St Peter. The Mass is scheduled to begin at 09:30 in the main square, co-celebrated by around 180 clergymen, including Adolfo Nicolas, the superior general of Pope Francis' Jesuit order. After delivering a homily, Francis will be presented with his papal pallium made of lambs' wool and the "fisherman's ring" bearing the image of St Paul holding two keys. The Pope has asked for some of the pomp to be stripped away. The ring is second-hand and is made of silver plated in gold, not the solid gold worn by his predecessor. Pope Francis has also chosen to keep the same coat of arms he had as archbishop of Buenos Aires, with the addition of the papal symbols - a gilded mitre and crossed gold and silver keys. The list of attendees for Monday's Mass includes US Vice-President Joe Biden and the spiritual head of the Orthodox Church, Patriarch Bartholomew. He will be the first Orthodox patriarch to attend a papal inauguration Mass since the two branches of Christianity split more than 1,000 years ago. Thirty-three groups of guests from various Christian Churches are expected in total, according to the Vatican, along with 16 delegations from Jewish communities, as well as representatives of other faiths. Argentine vigils Before his election last week, Pope Francis was Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, and Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner will attend the Mass. Argentineans held vigils overnight ahead of the Mass On Monday, Ms Fernandez became the first foreign head of state to be received by Pope Francis and said she had asked for his intervention in the Falklands dispute between her country and the UK. Thousands of people held overnight vigils across Argentina in preparation for Tuesday's Mass. The event will be broadcast on giant screens set up outside the cathedral on Plaza de Mayor, the main square in Buenos Aires. Correspondents say that in his first few days in office, Pope Francis has been striking an informal and spontaneous tone, preferring anecdotes and off-the-cuff remarks to scripted speeches. Speaking on Saturday, he emphasised that he wanted "a poor Church, for the poor". He is the first pontiff to take the name of Francis, choosing it to honour St Francis of Assisi, the 13th-Century son of an aristocrat who spurned a life of luxury to live with and for the poor. Pope Francis said the Holy Spirit had inspired the resignation of Benedict XVI and guided the cardinals choosing him as the next pontiff. At the end of a Mass he celebrated on Sunday, he waited outside the church and greeted people as they left, like a parish priest, asking many of them to "pray for me". Later, just a few minutes after delivering the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis sent his first Tweet as pontiff, writing: "Dear friends, I thank you from my heart and I ask you to continue to pray for me. Pope Francis." Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions via Top Stories - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNFBo5qWsonpTe3_tl40eafL7FcMIA&url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21839069

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