This image says it all. He looks as happy to be with them as they are to be with him. The Holy Ghost has given us quite a gem of a Holy Father. Deo Gratias!
Posted on 04/20/2005 1:29:44 PM PDT by ELS
Rome, Apr. 20 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI made his first public appearance on the streets of Rome on Wednesday afternoon, April 20, as he visited his old apartment near Vatican City to transfer some belongings to his new home in the apostolic palace.
The newly elected Pope, clothed completely in the distinctive white vestments of the papacy, caught onlookers by surprise when he chose to travel on foot, walking the few hundred yards to the apartment in the Citta Leonina where he had lived for years. When the news spread that the Pontiff was walking through the city, hundreds of people quickly gathered, and he spent some time in front of the apartment building, greeting the people and blessing young children. Italian police and Vatican security officials did their best to control the crowd, preserving some breathing room for the Pontiff.
After a short stay in his old apartment, the Pontiff reappeared, entering a black car that was waiting for him at the entrance of the building. He paused again to wave to the crowd, turning slowly from one direction to another so that he could greet as many as possible. The crowd burst into cheers of "Long live the Pope!" and the chant that has already become familiar: "Benedetto!" Pope Benedict later commented that he was "very moved" as he resumed direct contact with the faithful.
Pope Benedict had occupied the apartment in Citta Leonina until moving into the Vatican's St. Martha residence, along with all the other cardinal-electors, to begin the conclave on April 18.
Earlier in the day, the new Pope had taken possession of his new apartments in the apostolic palace. He was accompanied by Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo (bio - news), the camerlengo, who had sealed off those apartments after the funeral of Pope John Paul II.
Great pictures!! Thanks for the ping! I already knew you loved him!! :)
I've got a good feeling about him...he will be loved very much!
Agreed.
This was a wonderful gesture from a man that even us non-Catholics are truly admiring from the get-go.
Thanks to pyro for the pics.
BTW onyx, your account shows up as suspended. Hope not.
Nope, I'm not.
Just hiding out.
Good thing he didn't pick John XXIV. ;O)
I'm joining the chorus ... thanks for the photos!
Cool.
I know *I* can't see you!
You're hiding really well.
B-16 sounds like an old WWII bomber.
This article and the photo I posted in #28 remind me of Pius XII when he went into the streets of Rome after the bombing to be with the faithful. I have a feeling there will be more parallels between them.
OH WOW, that pic really speaks a thousand words.
He's got "it" --- exchanges of love with the little ones.
Yeah...lol... well, it's serving its purpose for the time being.
Maybe the Vatican can hire the cook that runs said German restaurant in Rome to be chef for the Pope?
Meanwhile, the potshots by the MSM against Benedict XVI are getting just as bad as the potshots by the MSM against President Bush. 
OK.
Hey, got any suggestions? I want to add "Benedetto" to my tagline, but "Kill them all, and let God sort them out" in Latin isn't exactly what this Pope is all about.
Well, yeah, I know that.
I said sounds LIKE...
You silly person. ;O)
Wonderful picture!
How odd seeing another man in that white cassock and cap after we had been used to John Paul for decades. But time marches on.
I know, and for some reason it just seems out of tune. This is probably the way our parents (& grandparents) must have felt when Roosevelt died in '45. He's probably a worthy man, but I still can't get used to him in papal white.
John Paul II, Santo Subito!
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