The Inauguration & Installation of Pope Francis I

Good Tuesday, everyone!

Today is the formal installation and inauguration of Pope Francis, the former Cardinal and Archbishop of Buenos Aires, in Argentina. Attended and witnessed by dignitaries and the faithful and the curious from all corners of the world at the famous St. Peter's Square at the Vatican City, Rome, Italy, today, the celebration marks the beginning of Pope Francis's petrine ministry as Bishop of Rome, the Supreme Pontiff of approximately 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide and Vicar of Christ here on our planet Earth.

In his homily at the Inauguration Mass, he asked everyone in authority and the ordinary lay people of faith to help/take care of the poor in our midst and to be good stewards or "protectors" of God's creation.

Today's Church event is also notable (and memorable) in that it coincides with the Feast of St. Joseph, humble husband of Blessed Virgin Mary and foster father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the patron saint of all fathers and of the Catholic Church, in general. St. Joseph, pray for us!

From my research, here's something about Pope Francis I...Born in the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires, to Italian immigrant parents, on December 17, 1936, then Archbishop Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires studied liberal arts, in 1960, and received his degree in philosophy from the Catholic University of Bueneos Aires. He then taught literature and psychology courses in both high school and college. In 1967, he studied chemistry at the University of Buenos Aires where he earned his master's degree. Then, he attended a Jesuit seminary of Villa Devoto where he was ordained a priest on December 13, 1969. He was a full-pledge Jesuit priest in 1973, becoming a master of novices at the Seminary of Barilaril in San Miguel then elected superior of the Jesuit province of Argentina. He went back to teach at a Jesuit school in San Miguel in 1980.

In 1992, he became auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires  where he cared (and managed) the Catholic university there, provided counselling and preaching to priests. Five years later, he was assigned coadjutor archbishop of Buenos Aires. On Feb. 28, 1998, he was appointed the new archbishop of Buenos Aires until he was s/elected the new pope on March 13, a day after the papal conclave was convened to elect a new pope replacing Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who resigned in February, this year, due to decline in health.

A man of simplicity, humility and holiness, the 76 year-old Pope Francis I chose the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.

In closing, I pray that our new Pope Francis I will be blessed and guided by the Holy Spirit in his new role as the Vicar of Christ, the leader of the Catholic Church that, to outspoken critics, needs rebuilding and reforms. May God bless Pope Francis I always!

This is all for now, my dear folks and friends. Until next time around. Thank you for your company. Take care and Have a peaceful, wonderful day, everyone! As always, I pray, "May the Almighty God bless us all!"-chris a. quilpa, 19 Mar 2013