Pope:anniversary of solemn liturgical rite of inauguration to Petrine ministry
Exactly seven years ago , on the 24th of April , Benedict XVI was back in Saint
Peter's Square less than a week after appearing on the central balcony of the Basilica
on the day of his election as 264th Successor of Peter.
It was a glorious
Spring day and he was there to celebrate the solemn liturgical rite of inauguration
of his Petrine ministry
St Peter's square echoed with the applause of the
thousands of faithful gathered around him waving their multicoloured banners. Applauding
too were the world leaders and authorities present.
Christians and non-Christians
alike , all were eager to witness the rite in which the Successor of Peter receives
the two liturgical symbols of his Petrine ministry : the fisherman's ring , a gold
signet ring depicting Saint Peter in his fisherman's boat , and the pallium.
Two
symbols laid out over the tomb of Saint Peter overnight as a sign of continuity of
the papacy. A tomb where Benedict XVI had gone to pray privately in a sign of fidelity
, prior to processing towards the square for this inauguration mass.
The placing
of the pallium on the Pope's shoulders represented the culminating moment of the occasion...
Listen
as Veronica Scarisbrick steps back in time to that date bringing you the sound of
his voice on that occasion: