Pope continues tradition of window appearance

POPE Benedict XVI made the first appearance of his papacy at the window of his apartment yesterday, telling tens of thousands of faithful and curious he was keeping up the cherished tradition of his beloved predecessor, John Paul II, who had last appeared to crowds in St Peter’s Square in silent suffering.

With some 50,000 people gathered in the square below, Benedict stood at the window of the papal apartment, which he moved into yesterday, blessed the crowd, wished Orthodox Christians a happy Easter and said he hoped efforts toward Christian unity would continue.

He also denounced wars across the globe and paid tribute to the world’s workers. May 1 is labour day in many countries, and many in the crowd had come to Rome to participate in a huge rally and concert scheduled for the evening.

The turnout in St Peter’s Square was one of the largest for the customary Sunday noon window appearance.

“I address you, my very dear brothers and sisters, for the first time from this window that the beloved figure of my predecessor made familiar to countless people in the entire world,” Benedict said from the third-floor window of the apostolic palace.

“From Sunday to Sunday, John Paul II, faithful to an appointment which became a cherished habit, accompanied for more than a quarter-century the history of the Church and of the world, and we continue to feel him closer to us than ever,” said Benedict, interrupted often by cheers.

John Paul died on April 2, three days after his last time at the window, when he made a silent appearance and raised his hand in blessing. German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, one of John Paul’s closest aides, was elected pontiff on April 19.

In the 15-minute appearance, Benedict issued a call for continued efforts to bridge the gap between Catholics and Orthodox.