Pope Francis installed amid hopes for renewal of scandal-plagued Church

Pope Francis inaugurated his papacy on Tuesday with an address calling for the defence of the weakest in society and of the environment, saying that  otherwise the way was opened to death and destruction.

A huge crowd converged on St. Peter’s Square to see the new pontiff celebrate his inaugural Mass amid a wave of hope for a renewal of the scandal-plagued Roman Catholic Church.

After a ride through the square for the first time in an open-top popemobile, Pope Francis prayed at the tomb of St. Peter’s in the Basilica for a few quiet moments before entering St. Peter’s square to address the crowd.

So far, the former Buenos Aires Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio has aroused enormous enthusiasm and interest in the Catholic world by the modest way he has assumed a post that was modelled after a Renaissance monarchy and carries titles such as ‘Vicar of Jesus Christ’ and ‘Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church’.

He was seen to quickly glance at his watch before leaving the basilica to conduct the Mass. The pontiff so far has shown himself to be early for his engagements.

Looking as though he was trying to hold in his emotions, the pope accepted his new papal ring from Cardinal Angelo Sodano. The papal ring chosen by Francis is made of gold-plated silver and depicts St. Peter holding the keys.

Speaking to the crowd, which included heads of state and leading religious figures, Pope Francis appealed for everyone to respect the weakest in society.

“It means respecting each of God’s creatures and respecting the environment in which we live. It means protecting people, showing loving concern for each and every person, especially children, the elderly, those in need, who are often the last we think about,” he said in the homily of his inaugural Mass.

“We must remember that hatred, jealousy and arrogance, dirty life” he said.

“To be custodians means to review our sentiments in our hearts because it is from here that good or bad intentions come, those which build and those which destroy” Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis took his name in honour of St. Francis of Assisi, a symbol of poverty, charity and love of nature.