VATICAN – In a signal of continuity, Pope Francis’s successor didn’t wear the papal red velvet loafers to his inaugural Mass Friday at the Sistine Chapel. He wore his black shoes.
The new leader of the Roman Catholic Church didn’t stand behind the altar. Instead, he stood before over 130 cardinals to urge them “to move aside” and “make” themselves “small” to make way for Jesus Christ.
Two women stood behind a podium in front of “The Last Judgment,” a fresco Michelangelo painted 1536-1541, to present the two readings during the Mass.
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“There are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd -- meant for the weak and unintelligent. Settings where other securities are preferred, like technology, money, success, power, or pleasure,” the pontiff said adding that there are even baptized Catholics who live in “a state of practical atheism” because they “reduce” Jesus Christ to a charismatic leader or superman.
The new Chicago-born Bishop of Rome, formerly Augustinian Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is a dual U.S. and Peruvian citizen. He spoke in English to the cardinals and delivered his homily in Italian.
“A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds,” the pontiff said suggesting that the solution is “missionary outreach.”
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In the U.S., Louis and John Prevost said they were proud and remembered that when their brother was a 6-year-old 1st-grade student a neighbor predicted he would be pope one day.
The first U.S.-born pope in the history of the church with 1.4 billion members is set to meet with cardinals on Saturday, deliver his first Sunday blessing at noon, and meet with journalists on Monday.
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