Hundreds of thousands to fill Square for Inaugural Mass

(Vatican Radio) On Tuesday, March 19 – the Feast of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Patron of the Universal Church – Pope Francis will take part in a solemn Mass that will mark the formal inauguration of his Petrine Ministry.

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and visitors are expected to fill Saint Peter’s Square for the liturgy, which is open to all the faithful. Tickets are not required for the Mass, which begins at 9:30 Rome time.

The faithful throughout the world will be able to take part in the Mass via radio, television, and the so-called new means of communication. Vatican Radio will be broadcasting the liturgy on our website at rv.va.

As part of the celebration, Pope Francis will also be greeting the official delegations of religious and political leaders who will be present for the inauguration. All the Cardinals in Rome are expected to be present for the Mass, and Archbishops and Bishops will be in attendance representing particular local Churches from around the world.

In an historic first, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, who is considered “first among equals” in the Eastern Orthodox Communion, will be in attendance at the Inaugural Mass. The Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, will represent the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Communion at the Mass. Rome will also be hosting leaders and representatives of various other churches and ecclesial communities, as well as representatives of the world’s major faith traditions.

Among the world leaders expected for the Mass are Argentine President Cristina Kirchner; Dilma Roussef, the President of Brazil; and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will also be in attendance, as will the Governor General of Canada, David Johnston.

European leaders will be present at the inauguration, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and Spanish Prime-Minister Mariano Rajoy. The President of the European Council, Hermann Van Rompuy, and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso will also be in attendance.

Pope Francis became the Bishop of Rome and visible head of the Catholic Church immediately upon accepting his election to the pontificate last Wednesday evening. Tuesday’s Mass will mark the solemn public beginning of his Ministry as the 265^th Successor of Saint Peter.

Listen to Christopher Wells' report: