Pope Benedict XVI holding an incense burner in front of the Papal fisherman ring, seen in its case, during his installment Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday. (AP)
New pope reaches out to Jews at Vatican inaugural Mass
By News Agencies and Haaretz Service
Vatican City- Pope Benedict 16th made his stance in relation to the Jewish faith very clear in the sermon he delivered on Sunday at his inauguration mass on St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.
As part of his address to non-Christians, the pope stressed that "with great affection I also greet ... my brothers and sisters of the Jewish people, to whom we are joined by a great shared spiritual heritage, one rooted in God's irrevocable promises."
Speaking in Italian the pope turned to the congregation saying "my dear friends - at this moment I can only say: pray for me, that I may learn to love the Lord more and more," he said.
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Earlier Pope Benedict emerged to the sound of choirs chanting in Latin and the applause of the crowd, into a sunlit St. Peter's Square for his inaugural Mass that marks the formal start of his papacy.
This is his first return for a public sermon as Pontiff to the spot where he conducted John Paul's huge funeral two weeks ago.
At 78 the oldest Pope for three centuries, he emerged onto the steps of the basilica behind a procession of cardinals and paused briefly to wave to a sea of onlookers estimated by city authorities at up to half a million.
Holding a silver staff and wearing gold vestments and an
embroidered mitre, the German Pope first visited the tomb of the Church's first pope, St. Peter, who is buried in the crypt of the vast basilica.
Presidents and prime ministers, leaders of other religions and about half a million pilgrims packed the square and surrounding streets to see the 78-year-old leader of the Roman Catholic Church receive the symbols of his authority.
In one of the most symbolic moments of the two-hour Mass, Benedict was given his Fisherman's Ring and a woolen pallium or shawl - both symbols of his papal authority.
The ring is emblazoned with an image of Peter casting his fishing nets and was traditionally used to seal apostolic letters.
Many in the crowd were from the Pope's native Germany. Groups waving German and Bavarian flags began arriving on Saturday and more were due at dawn after all-night bus trips.
Fewer world leaders attended the Mass than at John Paul's funeral, which with 2,500 dignitaries resembled a summit of the world's powerful, but the attendance list for the last main event in the papal transition is still long.
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and President Horst Koehler headed the German delegation. The U.S. group was led by Florida governor. Jeb Bush, brother of U.S. President George W. Bush and a convert to Roman Catholicism.
The guest list also included Spain's King Juan Carlos and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion.
Also present was Benedict's priest brother Georg, 81. The Mass was held in Latin with prayers in languages from German to Arabic and Chinese.
Few top Islamic leaders attended, and the Jewish presence was complicated by the weeklong Passover holiday, which began Saturday.
Italian authorities had tight security in place for the estimated 500,000 pilgrims expected. Zodiac boats patrolled the Tiber River, a no-fly zone was imposed within an eight-kilometer radius from the Vatican for most
of Sunday, Italian forces had anti-missile systems in place and warplanes on patrol alongside NATO surveillance aircraft. Some 10,000 police were being deployed.
Growing into new role The shy Pope, who as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was John Paul's top doctrinal overseer, has been slowly growing more comfortable in his new role since being elected in a secret conclave last Tuesday.
He displayed his linguistic skills at a special audience for journalists on Saturday, thanking them in fluent Italian, English, French and German for bringing the historic events of recent weeks to readers and viewers around the world.
The death of John Paul, his funeral and the conclave that elected Benedict was a media event like no other in recent history, with billions of viewers tuning in across the globe.
"In my own name, and especially on behalf of Catholics living far from Rome who were able to participate in these stirring moments for our faith that were taking place, I thank you for all you have done," Benedict said.
As the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog, Ratzinger upset Protestants, Buddhists and Hindus with sharp criticisms of their faiths. But his first address as Pope stressed the need for inter-faith dialogue.
More than 1,000 volunteers have been drafted in to marshal the crowds, including some from a German-speaking area of northern Italy to help pilgrims from the Pope's homeland coming to see their first compatriot in centuries be installed as Pope.
The Pope was due to meet visiting dignitaries later on Sunday and hold an audience for German pilgrims on Monday.
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