The moment the Pope bowed down to Robert Mugabe: Vatican ... · International pariah: Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, has been under a European Union travel ban since 2002 because

5/5/14, 12:51 PMPope Francis I Inauguration Mass: New Pope meet Robert Mugabe, Preside…imbabwe at inaugural mass in Vatican's St Peter's Square | Mail Online

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The moment the Pope bowed down to Robert Mugabe:Vatican defies EU travel ban on President of Zimbabweand allows him to attend Francis' inaugural Mass and sit inVIP section

New Pope raised eyebrows when he shook hands and bowed his head ingreeting to Zimbabwean leaderVatican seated Robert Mugabe in the VIP section during the mass in St.Peter's Square before he met the PopePresident Mugabe has been on an EU-wide travel ban since 2002 overalleged human rights abuse and vote riggingThe installation Mass is simpler than the 2005 ceremony for PopeBenedict XVI in keeping with Francis' styleEmergency crews set up barricades for nearly a mile along theboulevard leading to square to control the massesPope received vows of obedience from a half-dozen cardinals - symbolicgiven that his predecessor is still aliveUrged people to protect the environment, the weakest and the poorest,mapping out a clear focus of his priorities

By Jill Reilly and Sara Malm and Hannah Roberts

Published: 02:58 EST, 19 March 2013 | Updated: 21:52 EST, 19 March 2013

Pope Francis caused controversy on his first official day in ministry as he met and shookhands with Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe during his inaugural Mass in theVatican yesterday.

President Mugabe, who has been under a European Union travel ban since 2002because of allegations of human rights abuses and vote rigging, was sitting in the VIPsection during the installation ceremony in St. Peter's Square, and later received a

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personal greeting from the new pontiff.

Vatican officials tried to play down the infringement of the travel ban on the 89-year-oldleader today, claiming all Catholics were welcome to the inauguration and that nopersonal invitations had been issued prior to the ceremony.

Respecting Mugabe: Pope Francis bows his head for the 89-year-oldZimbabwean despot as they meet at St Peter's Basilica during the inauguralMass



Controversial start: Pope Francis meets and shakes hands with PresidentRobert Mugabe and his wife Grace in the Vatican on his first official day inministry yesterday, flouting an EU-wide travel ban on the Zimbabweanleader



Well received: The new pontiff smiles as he chats to President Mugabe andhis wife, who were greeted at the airport by a priest sent specifically towelcome them to the Vatican

Conservative Catholic Mugabe is allowed in the Vatican City, located within the capital,as it is a separate state and therefore but subject to the EU ban.

When the Zimbabwean president arrived in Italy he was met by a priest at the Romeairport terminal who said: ‘On behalf of Pope Francis, welcome to the Vatican, welcometo the Holy See.’

Mugabe has visited Italy twice since the travel ban was enforced. In each case theconservative Catholic president was en-route to the Vatican, in 2005 for the funeral ofPope John Paul in 2005 and in April 2011 for ceremonies for his beatification.

Also in attendance yesterday was Britain’s minister for faith, Baroness Warsi whopromised that the Argentine Pope will not be intervening in the dispute between hishome country and the UK over the Falklands.



Days into his papacy, Pope Francis has already come under pressure to intercede in thedispute, with President Cristina Kirchner of Argentina flying into Rome to ask for hissupport on’ Las Malvinas’

As Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Francis has said that ‘the islands are ours’ and referredto the British as ‘usurpers’.

However, during her visit to the inaugural Mass, Baroness Warsi insisted that anintervention ‘is not going to happen.’

In the top crowd: Conservative Catholic Robert Mugabe and his wife Gracesit in the VIP section for the Inauguration Mass in St Peter's Square earlieryesterday



Guests: Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace wereseated in the VIP section across the aisle from European Council PresidentHerman Van Rompuy (left) and his wife Geertrui Windels



International pariah: Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, has been undera European Union travel ban since 2002 because of allegations of voterigging and human rights abuses. The Vatican is not part of the EuropeanUnion, allowing Mugabe to travel there

Asked what Britain’s view on papal interference would be, Baroness Warsi, said: ‘It’s notgoing to happen. ‘I’m confident that the policy of the Holy See is not going to change.

‘They’ve always held the view that the issue of the Falkland Islands is a matter for theUK and Argentina to deal with, that it’s a bilateral matter.

‘We‘ve always been very clear that the future of the Falkland Islands depends on theislanders and they made it very clear what their view is in the referendum last week. ‘



Muslim Baroness Warsi accompanied the British delegation, which also includedKenneth Clarke and the Duke of Gloucester, the Queen’s cousin and 21st in line to thethrone, as well as his wife Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester.

David Cameron and the Queen did not attend, prompting speculation that Britain hadsnubbed the open air mass in Rome’s St Peter’s Square, but there was no shortage inVIPs and pilgrims, who had begun to gather in the square from dawn.

Despite arranging a simplified ceremony to suit the style of Pope Francis, it was enoughto draw hundreds of thousands of people to St. Peter's Square to witness the start of hispapacy.

'Amid so much darkness we need to see the light of hope,' he urged worshippers as hedelivered his optimistic tone and warned them to reject hatred and envy.



Strong start: Pope Francis ditched the pomp as he blesses tens of thousandsat inaugural mass. Francis thrilled the crowd by touring the piazza andgetting out of his jeep to bless a disabled man and kiss children


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'Amid so much darkness we need to see the light of hope,' he urgedworshippers as he delivered his optimistic tone and warned them to rejecthatred and envy



Official beginning: The inauguration Mass for Pope Francis is under way inSt Peter's Square in Rome, marking the official start of his papacy



Beginning office as 266th pope: Before the Mass Pope Francis waspresented with his papal pallium made of lambs' wool - symbolising his roleas shepherd of his flock



Tradition: Pope Francis receives the Fisherman's Ring, made of gold-platedsilver. The pope's signet ring shows St. Peter as a fisherman and has thereigning pope's name inscribed around the border. It has been used sincethe 13th century as a seal for private letters

Francis thrilled the crowd by touring the sun-drenched piazza and getting out of his jeepto bless a disabled man and kiss children, another gesture from a man whose short



papacy is becoming defined by such spontaneous forays into the crowd and concern forthe disadvantaged.

The blue and white flags from Francis' native Argentina fluttered above the crowd - inBuenos Aires central Plaza de Mayo square, thousands of people cheered when theyheard his words broadcast over loudspeaker.

'I want to ask you to walk together, and take care of one another... and don't forget thatthis bishop who is far away loves you very much. Pray for me,' he said.

Civil protection crews closed the main streets leading to the square to traffic and set upbarricades for nearly a mile along the route to try to control the masses and allow officialdelegations through.



Order of ceremony: Pope Francis took part in ceremonies within St. Peter'sBasilica, before emerging once more in solemn procession to be seatedbefore the massed crowds in the square

A day to remember: Some of the bishops seize the moment in St Peter'sSquare and take pictures with their smartphones



In honour: Bishops in pink and cardinals in gold bow their heads in prayerduring the open air mass in St. Peter's Square



Francis directed his homily to the many world leaders at the ceremony,saying: 'I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility ineconomic, political and social life, and all men and women of goodwill'

Before the Mass began, Francis received the fisherman's ring symbolising the papacyand a wool stole symbolizing his role as shepherd of his 1.2-billion strong flock.

He also received vows of obedience from a half-dozen cardinals - a potent symbol givenhis predecessor Benedict XVI is still alive.

A cardinal intoned the rite of inauguration, saying: 'The Good Shepherd charged Peter tofeed his lambs and his sheep; today you succeed him as the bishop of this church.'

He is officially beginning his ministry as the 266th pope with a clear focus of hispriorities.



The pope urged people to protect the environment, the weakest and the poorest,mapping out a clear focus of his priorities.

He promised that a little bit of tenderness can 'open up a horizon of hope.'

Francis was interrupted by applause several times during his homily, including when hespoke of the need to protect the environment, serve one another with love andtenderness and not allow 'omens of destruction,' hatred, envy and pride to 'defile ourlives.'

Captive audience: Francis then delivered his homily, in Italian. His sermonbegan by focusing on Joseph and his role as protector - of Mary, Jesus andthe Church



Spectacular sight: Cardinals line up in seats at Pope Francis' inauguralMass. The Pope received the obedience of the cardinals, and the Massformally began in Rome



No risks: Pope Francis is helped walk down the steps in St. Peter's Square -on Friday he slightly stumbled during an audience with his cardinals so hetook no risks yesterday in front of a global audience



Order of service: Priests deliver communion under umbrellas to the faithful



Welcomed: Pope Francis smiles widely during his inauguration mass asthousands of people watch from the square



Pope Francis salutes cardinal Tarcisio Bertone after driving a long routeinto the square in order to greet the faithful that had been waiting to seehim since late last night



Audience: Pope Francis holds up the chalice of wine at the Mass as hisfaithful watch

Francis said the role of the pope is to open his arms and protect all of humanity, but'especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important, those whom Matthew lists inthe final judgment on love: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick andthose in prison.'

'Today amid so much darkness we need to see the light of hope and to be men andwomen who bring hope to others,' he said.

'To protect creation, to protect every man and every woman, to look upon them withtenderness and love, is to open up a horizon of hope, it is to let a shaft of light breakthrough the heavy clouds,' he said.



Spectacular start: An aerial view of Saint Peter's Square prior to the start ofthe installation Mass as the bishops, cardinals and VIP guests arrive



Sky view: Saint Peter's Square before the arrival of Pope Francis showingthe bishops seated in pink robes behind the empty chairs reserved for thecardinals, opposite the VIP section filled with representatives from nationsaround the world

Francis directed his homily to the many world leaders at the ceremony, saying: 'I wouldlike to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political and sociallife, and all men and women of goodwill. '

'Let us be protectors of creation, protectors of God's plan inscribed in nature, protectorsof one another and of the environment.

Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina, took his name in honour ofSt. Francis of Assisi, a symbol of poverty, charity and love of nature.



Some 132 official delegations attended, including more than a half-dozen heads of statefrom Latin America, a sign of the significance of the election for the region.

The Vatican is not part of the European Union, allowing Mugabe to travel there.

Down to earth: Francis' history of living with the poor and working for themwhile archbishop of Buenos Aires seems to have resonated with ordinaryCatholics



Brave new world: The new Pople travelled in a Mercedes Benz G-Class SUV.If he had beem in the Popemobile, he would have been behind bulletproofglass, which was added after an assassination attempt on John Paul II



Caring touch: Pope Francis got out of the jeep-style car to bless a disabledman in a wheelchair in the crowd



Relaxed: Francis, who was elected by a secret conclave of cardinals lastWednesday, stopped frequently to greet the crowd



Bustling scene: Crowds fill Saint Peter's Square - police ensured they wereout in force to make sure crushes did not occur in the sea of people hopingto catch a glimpse of the new Pope



Francis was interrupted by applause several times during his homily,including when he spoke of the need to protect the environment, serve oneanother with love and tenderness and not allow 'omens of destruction,'hatred, envy and pride to 'defile our lives'



Blessing from new leader: Pope Francis kisses a child as he arrives in SaintPeter's Square - the new leader broke with tradition also going on a walkabout in the crowd



Draw: Italian media estimate could reach 1 million. Emergency crews set upbarricades for nearly a mile along the main boulevard leading to the squareto control the masses

Francis had his first taste of the diplomatic challenges of the papacy when on Monday,Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez asked him to support Buenos Aires in adispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic.

A Vatican spokesman had no comment on the request.

Francis, named after the 13th-century friar known for his care of the mostdisadvantaged, has made clear he wants his pontificate to be focused on the poor, amessage that has resonance in a poverty-stricken region that counts 40 percent of theworld's Catholics.



Among the religious VIPs attending was the spiritual leader of the world's OrthodoxChristians, Bartholomew I, who became the first patriarch from the Istanbul-basedchurch to attend a papal investiture since the two branches of Christianity split nearly1,000 years ago.

In the VIP section were German chancellor Angela Merkel, US vice president Joe Biden,Argentine president Cristina Fernandez, Taiwanese president Ying-Jeou Ma, PrinceAlbert of Monaco and Bahraini prince Sheik Abdullah bin Haman bin Isa Alkhalifa,among others. Six sovereign rulers, 31 heads of state, three princes and 11 heads ofgovernment attended.

Also attending for the first time was the chief rabbi of Rome.

Greeting: Pope Francis waves to crowds as he arrives to his inaugurationMass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican



Attraction: The crowd may be the biggest in Rome since more than 1.5million people came to the city for the beatification of the late Pope JohnPaul II on May 1, 2011



Fresh start: The Catholic leader of England and Wales has spoken of hisexcitement over a fresh start for the Church ahead of the Pope'sinauguration Mass yesterday



Pope Francis waves to crowds as he arrives through the heaving crowd - hewas seen touching the head of a child held out to him



Holy meeting: Although the new leader of the Catholic Church smiledwidely as he picked up a child offered to him, the baby was not quite socheerful

Their presence underscores the broad hopes for ecumenical and interfaith dialogue inthis new papacy given Francis' own work for improved relations and his namesake St.Francis of Assisi.

In a gesture to Christians in the East, the pope prayed with Eastern rite Catholicpatriarchs and archbishops before the tomb of St. Peter at the start of the Mass and theGospel was chanted in Greek rather than the traditional Latin.

But it is Francis' history of living with the poor and working for them while archbishopof Buenos Aires that seems to have resonated with ordinary Catholics who say they arehopeful that Francis can inspire a new generation of faithful who have fallen away from



the church.

'I think he'll revive the sentiments of Catholics who received the sacraments but don't goto Mass anymore, and awaken the sentiments of people who don't believe anymore inthe church, for good reason,' said Judith Teloni, an Argentine tourist guide who lives inRome and attended the Mass with a friend.

'As an Argentine, he was our cardinal. It's a great joy for us,' said Edoardo FernandezMendia, from the Argentine Pampas who was in the crowd. Recalling another greatmoment in Argentine history, when soccer great Diego Maradona scored an improbablegoal in the 1986 World Cup, he said:

'And for the second time, the Hand of God came to Argentina.'

Sea of faithful: Pope Francis waves as he is driven through the crowd priorto his inaugural Mass marking the official start of his papacy



Welcoming: The blue and white flags from Pope Francis' native Argentinafluttered above the crowd that Italian media estimate could reach 1 million



History: Francis is the first pope from the developing world - and the firstfrom outside Europe for 1,000 years



Duties: Tomorrow Francis will receive more than 30 delegationsrepresenting other Christian churches, as well as from the Jewish, Muslim,Buddhist, Sikh and Jain religions, a Vatican spokesman said



Inclusive: Riccardo Di Segni chief Rabbi attended the ceremony at theVatican



Momentous occasion: Nuns and priests prayed as the Mass began in VaticanCity

Francis has made headlines with his simple style since the moment he appeared to theworld on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, eschewing the ermine-lined red velvet capehis predecessor wore in favor of the simple papal white cassock, then paying his own billat the hotel where he stayed prior to the conclave that elected him pope.

He has also surprised - and perhaps frustrated - his security detail by his impromptuforays into the crowds.

For nearly a half-hour before the Mass began, Francis toured the square in an open-airjeep, waving, shouting 'Ciao!' to well-wishers and occasionally kissing babies handed upto him as if he had been doing this for years.



At one point, as he neared a group of people in wheelchairs, he signaled for the jeep tostop, hopped off, and went to bless a man held up to the barricade by an aide.

Representing Britain: Prince Richard the Duke of Gloucester, BaronessWarsi and Kenneth Clarke pose for Birgitte the Duchess of Gloucester priorto the Inauguration Mass



Belgium's King Albert II, Queen Paola and Belgium's Prime Minister Elio DiRupo, top left, watch the mass and pictured on the right Taiwan's PresidentMa Ying-jeou, left of the photo and his wife Chow Mei-chin arrive in St.Peter's Square



Reverent: Prince Albert of Monaco and his wife Princess Charlene bow theirheads in prayer



All eyes: Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was seenblowing kisses and waving to the crowd as she took her seat for the televisedevent



Awed: Dutch Prince Alexander, second left, his wife Princess Maxima, left,Prince Felipe of Spain, right, and his wife Princess Letizia looks at the

crowd before taking their seats



Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel also attended the Mass, left whilePrincess Charlene was seen receiving communion from a priest

VIDEO See Pope Francis giving his inaugural mass at the Vatican

Pope says protect the weak during his inaugural mass

A wax cast of the ring Francis received was first presented to Pope Paul VI, who presidedover the second half of the Second Vatican Council, the 1962-65 meetings thatrevolutionized the church.

Paul never wore it but the cast was subsequently made into the ring that Francis choseamong several other more ornate ones.

Francis will receive each of the government delegations in St. Peter's Basilica after theMass, and then hold an audience with the visiting Christian delegations on Wednesday.He has a break from activity on Thursday; a gracious nod perhaps to the fact that theArchbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is being installed that day in London.

As a result, Welby won't be representing the Anglican Communion at Tuesday'sinstallation Mass for Francis, sending instead a lower-level delegation. All told, sixsovereign rulers, 31 heads of state, three princes and 11 heads of government areattending, the Vatican said.



For Jews, Orthodox and other religious leaders, the new pope's choice of Francis as hisname is also important for its reference to the Italian town of Assisi, where Pope JohnPaul II began conferences encouraging interfaith dialogue and closer bonds amongChristians.

Big event: Nuns run in Saint Peter's Square to take a good vantage point



Main event: Nuns of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross, from Spain,wait near St. Peter's Square for the start of the Mass



Deep in prayer: Some of the faithful pray inside the Metropolitan Cathedralbefore Pope Francis installation Mass in Buenos Aires, Argentina



Reverence: Many people knelt in the Square and prayed during the Mass

VIDEO Pope Francis officially takes charge of his 1.2 billion flock

Pope Francis officially takes charge of his 1.2 billion-strong flock

The Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, will join political and



religious leaders from around the world to attend the official start of Pope Francis'spapacy in St Peter's Square.

He told the BBC: 'I'm excited about this morning and full of that sense of a new start.

'Everybody has seen Pope Francis here and, as the people here in Rome say, he has 'wontheir hearts' with his simplicity, his directness and his ability to speak directly to thehearts of people to their anxieties and hopes.

'He seems to me to appear like an experienced and loving parish priest.

'He seems to have this ability to speak to hearts of people directly even though he'saddressing a quarter of a million people.

'He's a priest for the world and he's speaking to everybody. Everybody has this sense ofbeing included, those here who don't go to church very often, those in London who I'vespoken to who are not Catholics, who are not Christians, they have a sense of a rapportwith him which is quickly established and hopefully will be fruitful.'

He will address foreign ambassadors to the Vatican on Friday and have lunch withBenedict, their first meeting since the conclave, on Saturday before leading celebrationsthe next day for Pal Sunday, the first day of Holy Week leading to Easter.



Memorabilia: A man sells posters and badges of Pope Francis outside theMetropolitan Cathedral before a live broadcast from the Vatican of hisinstallation Mass in Buenos Aires



International audience: Workers check the preparations are all correct forthe Mass which will be televised around the world



Lining up: Last preparations for the Mass in St. Peter's Square. Political andreligious dignitaries from all over the world, are expected to attend

VIDEO: Pope Francis surprises faithful at his old church with phonecall

Pope Francis surprises faithful at his old church with phone call from the...



VIDEO Pope Francis greets his faithful at St Peter's Square

Pope greets faithful at St Peter's Square, start of inauguration mass

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The moment the Pope bowed down to Robert Mugabe: Vatican ... · International pariah: Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, has been under a European Union travel ban since 2002 because