VATICAN CITY -In a broad message of outreach to formally begin his papacy yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI stressed his church's shared bonds with Jews and other Christians and promised followers he would not ignore their voices in leading the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics.
The pope's first major homily in St. Peter's Square also was noteworthy for what it left out: No mention of any current political issues or direct overtures toward Muslims although he paid respects to believers and non-believers alike.
My real program of governance is not to do my own will
not to pursue my own ideas but to listen together with the whole church
to the word and the will of the Lord
the pontiff told a gallery of dignitaries, spiritual leaders and more than 350,000 pilgrims in his German-accented Italian.
The pope did not elaborate, but the speech suggested his papacy could study some pressing issues such as greater social activism and ways to reverse the decline of church attendance and vocations in the West. As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger -before his election as pope -he clearly opposed any fundamental changes such as ending bans on contraception or women priests.
The lack of a political edge to the homily also hinted Benedict might be more cautious than his predecessor, John Paul II, in using the Vatican's clout in international affairs.
The 78-year-old pontiff appeared tired and coughed several times into a handkerchief that he pulled from within a sleeve of his golden vestments. But he smiled and waved while being driven over the square's cobblestones on an open-air vehicle after the Mass to formally invest him with the papacy.
At first
I though he'd be stern and scolding
said Walter Bonner, who traveled from Italy's German-speaking Alpine region. But he turns out to be more like a grandfather.
The inclusive tone of the homily -given after he received the Fisherman's Ring and other symbols of papal authority -added to the deep reassessment of Benedict since his election Tuesday. He emerged from the conclave followed by his reputation as rigid and dogmatic after 24 years as the Vatican's chief overseer of doctrine. But he quickly displayed a style of openness he said was inspired by John Paul II -who he said is now truly at home among the saints.
One of Benedict's first acts was a personal greeting to the head of Rome's Jewish community. On Sunday, he noted a great shared spiritual heritage with Jews.
Benedict's effort to reach out to Jews carries an added dimension because of his membership in the Hitler Youth and later as a conscript into the German army during World War II. He said he was forced into both roles.
In Israel, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said the pope's words show his desire to continue John Paul's interfaith efforts and forge even stronger ties between Israel and the Vatican and between Jews and Christians. Most Jewish leaders could not attend the Mass because it coincided with the weeklong Passover holiday.
The pope also extended a hand to all Christians, quoting Scriptures with images of a separated flock. Let us do all we can to pursue the path toward unity
he said.
Finally
like a wave gathering force
he added at another point in the 30-minute homily, my thoughts go out to all men and women today
to believers and non-believers alike.
Here, too, the pope stepped gently onto sensitive ground. In 2000, while serving at the Vatican's powerful office that guides doctrine, he issued a document that angered other Christians and faiths by framing salvation in only Catholic terms.
But he went no further into church doctrine in his homily -unlike his pre-conclave comments that stressed obedience to absolute truths of morality and faith. Instead, he proclaimed humility at facing this enormous task
