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.