FOXNews.com: St. Peter's Fills for Pope Francis

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St. Peter's Fills for Pope Francis Mar 19th 2013, 08:14 Published March 19, 2013 FoxNews.com March 19, 2013: Nuns line up for the inaugural Mass of Pope Francis, at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.AP VATICAN CITY –  Thousands of people are pouring into St. Peter's Square in Vatican City to witness the official start of the papacy of the first pope from the New World. The blue and white flags from Pope Francis' native Argentina fluttered Tuesday above the crowd that Italian media estimate could reach 1 million. Emergency crews set up barricades for nearly a mile along the main boulevard leading to the square to control the masses. The installation Mass is simpler than the 2005 ceremony for Pope Benedict XVI in keeping with Francis' style, but still grand enough to draw 132 official delegations and religious leaders from around the world, including the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians who is attending for the first time since the two branches of Christianity split 1,000 years ago. In a Vatican press release, press office director Father Federico Lombardi said the correct term for the ceremony is not enthronement, but inauguration.  "As successor of Peter, the Pope is Bishop of Rome and the Church of Rome 'presides in love' over the others," he said. "Also, it is a celebration rich with symbols that recall the Pope's tie to St. Peter, beginning with the place where, according to tradition, Peter was martyred." Between 8:45 and 8:50 a.m. local time (03:45 and 3:50ET), the Pope will begin to move through the crowd in the various sections of the piazza -- either in the Jeep or the Popemobile -- and greet those gathered. He will return to the Sacristy around 9:15am (04:15ET). Mass is planned to begin at 9:30am (04:30ET). Before Mass, several rites will take place, including the Fisherman's Ring, when a ring will be presented to Pope Francis that bears the image of St. Peter with the keys, and the "Obedience," when six cardinals will approach Francis to make an act of obedience.  Lombardi said the ceremony will be about two hours.  The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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