POPE FRANCIS’ FIRST WORDS
POPE FRANCIS’ FIRST WORDS TO HIS BELOVED CHILDREN
AND TO THE WORLD
Brothers
and sisters, good evening!
You
know how the duty of the Conclave is to give a bishop to Rome. It seems that my
brother cardinals have gone to take him from the edge of the world... but here
we are.
I
thank you for your welcome. The diocesan family of Rome has your bishop: thank
you! And before anything else, I'd like for us to pray for our bishop-emeritus,
Benedict XVI. Let us pray together for him, that the Lord bless him and Our
Lady keep him in her care....
Our
Father....
Hail
Mary....
Glory
Be....
And
now, together, let us start this road: bishop and people. This [new] path of
the church of Rome, which "presides in charity" [over] all the
churches. A path of brotherhood, of love, of trust between us. Let us pray
always for ourselves: one for the other. Let us pray for all the world, that we
all might know a great fraternity. I wish you that this journey as Church, that
we begin today and on which my Cardinal-Vicar [of Rome] will help me, might be
fruitful for the evangelization of this beautiful city!
And
now I'll give you my blessing... but first – first, I ask you this favor:
before the bishop blesses his people, I ask that you pray to the Lord that he
might bless me: the prayer of the people, seeking God's blessing for their
bishop. In silence, please pray over me....
*Pope
Bows to crowd*
Now
I give my blessing to you and all the world – to all men and women of good
will....
Brothers
and sisters, I leave you, but only for now. Many thanks for your warm welcome.
Please pray for me often!
I'll
see you soon – tomorrow I want to go pray to Our Lady [Salus Populi Romani –
her shrine at St Mary Major], because she's the one who cares for Rome.
Good
night and sleep well!