Pontiff invokes St. Joseph as protector

Two hundred thousand attend Mass for inauguration of Pope Francis

(Caption: Pilgrims wave flags during the Mass for the inauguration of the Petrine Ministry of Pope Francis.
 Alistair Burns / The B.C. Catholic.)

At his inauguration as Pope on the feast of St. Joseph,  March 19,  Pope Francis used the holy carpenter's example to inspire a crowd packed into St. Peter's Square.

"Brothers and Sisters, I thank the Lord that I can celebrate this Mass on the solemnity of St. Joseph, the spouse of the Virgin Mary and the patron of the universal Church," the Holy Father began.

"All those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political, and social life, and all men and women of good will: let us be 'protectors' of creation."

Governor General David Johnston commented to The B.C. Catholic that he was "moved by the (Pope's) powerful message of caring for one another; especially those most disadvantaged."

The Pope also met Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew from Istanbul. It was a historic moment: it was the first time the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians had attended a Catholic Pontiff's inaugural Mass in a millennium.

For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.