The story is that when the Apostle Peter, the first bishop of Rome, was leaving the city because of the persecutions against the early Christians, he encountered the Lord Jesus on his way into the Roman capital, and asked him: “Quo vadis, Domine?” — “Where are you going, Lord?”
Meeting with journalists a few days after his election, Pope Francis talked about how difficult it is for the media to cover the Church as a spiritual institution. Many reporters, it seems, fail to understand that a conclave is more about prayer than politicking, more about responding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit than what the latest polls may show.
Pope Francis formally began his ministry as bishop of Rome and as pope by pledging to protect the Catholic Church, the dignity of each person and the beauty of creation, just like St. Joseph protected Mary and Jesus.
Although attempts were made to simplify the ceremony, Pope Francis officially inaugurated his ministry as pope and bishop of Rome in a liturgy filled with biblical symbolism and signs of the universality of his mission.
Earlier that morning, Pope Francis celebrated Mass at the Church of St. Anne inside Vatican City, where his homily also treated the subject of divine mercy. He also sent his first official Tweet.
"Pope Francis did not forbid them to come," said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, but he said he would prefer their continued prayers and acts of charity.
The new pope left the Domus Sanctae Marthae at 8 a.m. March 14 for a five-minute drive to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he prayed before an icon of Mary and the child Jesus beloved by Romans.
Viviana Sotro, a native of Argentina who serves at Sagrada Familia Apostolate at St. Stephen parish in Minneapolis, said it was a special day for the people of her birth country.
