Pope Benedict XVI Installed

Homage to John Paul II

The thronged square was bathed in spring sunshine and decorated with flowers, in stark contrast to the leaden skies and winds which buffeted the requiem mass for Pope Benedict's predecessor John Paul II just two weeks ago.

Pope Benedict peppered his homily with references to his predecessor, urging Christians at the outset of his pontificate: "Do not be afraid."

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates his installation Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican

Recalling the late pontiff's words at his own 1978 inauguration, the new pope said that by trusting in God "we lose nothing, absolutely nothing, of what makes life free, beautiful and great."

Citing episodes in the Bible, he compared Christian unity to a net cast by the fisherman St Peter on Jesus' instructions which held fast despite bulging with fish.

"Alas, beloved Lord, with sorrow we must now acknowledge that it has been torn!" he said. "Let us do all we can to pursue the path toward the unity you have promised... Grant that we may be one flock and one shepherd.

"Do not allow your net to be torn, help us to be servants of unity."

Greeting Jewish people

Greeting representatives of other faiths, he extended a message to "the Jewish people, to whom we are joined by a great shared spiritual heritage, one rooted in God's irrevocable promises."

Pilgrims and members of religious communities had been making their way to the Vatican since before dawn.

A Bavarian man wearing a national costume stands in front of St. Peter's Basilica prior to the installment Mass of Pope Benedict XVI

"Lieber Papst, wir Kinder lieben Dich" (Dear pope, we children love you) read one of the thousands of banners displayed by pilgrims, this one prepared by Italian primary school students in the new pope's native tongue.

"He's very holy, he won't listen to any nonsense about gay marriage," said Sister Ruth Augustus, a Franciscan missionary from London, referring to a Spanish bill passed this week to authorize same-sex couples to marry and adopt children.

"And he wants to kick out the priests who have sex with children," said Augustus, carrying a statue of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus.

At least two people fainted in the crowd, to be wheeled away by volunteers from Italy's civil protection organization.

Germans and the German flag were prominent in the crowd, including a group of 400 people from the Bavarian town of Traunstein dressed in the traditional skirts and lederhosen of their region.

"It is a great honor. It is the first pope from upper Bavaria," said Hans Wembacher.

Global audience

Thousands of people attend the installment Mass of Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Square

In a mass reflecting the worldwide reach of the Catholic Church, the scripture readings were in English and Spanish and prayers were offered in French, German, Chinese, Portuguese, Arabic, Greek and Latin.

The Vatican said the new pope would tour the square greeting pilgrims from an open-topped car in the manner made famous by his predecessor at the end of the mass.

But a spokesman said he would not walk into the crowd.

"We would stay until 4 p.m. in the afternoon," if he did.