Homily

Obviously, I'll post the full text as soon as the English translation is released. But I'll pick out a few themes for you now.

He begins by talking about the conclave and how the Cardinals learned they were not alone but were surrounded and embraced by God in their task. Then he says the task of leading the Church exceeds all human capacity. The only reason he believes he will be able to do it is because he's not alone. He trusts in God's guidance and he appeals to us for our prayers. (The crowd is interrupting often for applause.)

Now he's talking about the living reality of the Church.

He makes reference to what the suffering of Pope John Paul II taught us and how it showed forth the power of the suffering and resurrection of Christ.

The crowd keeps applauding in the middle of his remarks. He just stopped in the middle of a sentence, looked up, and grinned. :)

Talks about how his task and his wish is to do the work and the will of the Lord. Says rather than putting forward a "program" for his pontificate in this homily, he wants to reflect on the two principal symbols of this liturgy.

First the pallium. Says it is considered a symbol of the yoke of Christ, which the Pope, the servant of the servants of God, takes on his shoulders. Says God's will both purifies us and leads us to ourselves. The lamb's wool is meant to symbolize the lost sheep that the shepherd takes on his shoulders and carries to the water of life. Says the parable of the lost sheep is a reflection on the mission and ministry of Christ.

I can't wait to sit down and read the official translation of this homily. This live translation is rough and somewhat hard to follow.

Jesus shows that it is not power but love that redeems us. Deplores what he calls "theologies of power," which seek a God that would destroy all that stands in his way. He says God does not work this way, as the cross shows us.

He's still reflecting on the image of the shepherd. Loving means being ready to suffer for the sheep. Asks us to pray for him, that he may learn to love the Lord more and more and learn to love this flock more and more. Asks the whole Church to pray for him and for one another, that the Lord will carry us and that we will learn to carry one another.

Now talks about the symbolism of the Fisherman's Ring and the story of the miraculous catch of fish from John's Gospel. He's talking about the task of the fisherman, but the translator is really losing me here.

Each of us is loved and each of us is necessary. There's nothing more beautiful than to know Christ and to speak to others of our love for him. Says the task of the fisherman is a service to joy -- to God's joy, which loves to break into the world.

Talking about the Lord's call to unity: "I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must lead them, too, and they will hear my voice, that there may be one flock, one shepherd." He says with sorrow we must aknowledge we have destroyed this unity. But we must trust in God's promise of unity and work toward it with joy. Asks us to pray that we may be servants of unity.

Reflects back to the day of the election of Pope John Paul II. Says his words "Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors to Christ." Says Christ never takes away from freedom, human dignity, or justice. Are we not all afraid that opening ourselves fully to Christ that he may take something from us, that he might ask us to give up something precious to us? If we let Christ into our lives, we lose absolutely nothing of what makes life great. Only in his friendship is the great potential of human existence revealed. Tells young people "Do not be afraid of Christ. He takes nothing away from you, and he gives you everything."

End of homily. Lots of applause.