Little sign of pomp as Vatican gets ready

There were no little old ladies dashing about with fresh cuts of altar flowers.

There was no sound of choirs rehearsing for the big event. There was clearly no need for a fresh lick of paint in a basilica decorated by artists of Michelangelo’s stature.

But there was so little activity that many wondered just what the Vatican was planning for the inauguration today of the new Bishop of Rome.