It was with a call for the protection of the weakest in society
that Francis was officially inaugurated Tuesday as the Catholic
Church's 266th pontiff, before a crowd of tens of thousands
bathed in sunlight. Giving his homily before the throngs in St.
Peter's Square, Francis showed the humility and concern for
ordinary people that have been noted since he became the first
Latin American to be elected pope six days ago. Before he spoke,
he was given the official symbols of his papacy: a lamb's wool
shawl, to represent his role as "the good shepherd," and the
Fisherman's Ring, to represent his role of spreading the gospel.
The ring is not solid gold like that of his predecessors, but
made of gold-plated silver -- again reflecting his desire for
simplicity. The pope delivered his homily in Italian, rooted in
a message of looking after the poor and sick, as well as the
natural world. He reflected first on the symbolism of the date:
this is the day that Catholics celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph
to honor Jesus' f