New pope means new business for recession-weary Rome
Rome, which was hit especially hard in the global recession, hopes a new pope will bring some new business to the hurting city.
Rome, which was hit especially hard in the global recession, hopes a new pope will bring some new business to the hurting city.
As part of his inauguration to his papal ministry Tuesday, Pope Francis received a special signet ring, the seal of which is used to signify approval of special Vatican documents.
All popes wear a special ring, named the fisherman's ring after Peter's initial job as a fisherman.
Initial reports on Francis' ring, a gold-plate silver band with a small face carrying a relief image of a bearded St. Peter holding the symbolic keys to heaven, were a bit confused.
Rome dispatch: Pope Francis opened his reign with a meditation on St. Joseph and the power and limits of the papacy.
There is an update to this blog: Update on Pope Francis' ring.
As his formal signet, Pope Francis will be using a silver and gold ring previously owned by the private secretary of Pope Paul VI, the Vatican confirmed Monday afternoon.
All popes wear a special ring, named the fisherman's ring after Peter's initial job as a fisherman.
Rome dispatch: One million people are expected to attend Pope Francis' inaugural Mass, which will be held tomorrow, on the feast of St. Joseph.
Rome dispatch: Pope Francis says he chose his name because St. Francis "was a man of peace, a man of poverty, a man who loved and protected creation."
Rome dispatch: When Pope Francis met with his cardinals Friday, there were some slight alterations from the traditions of Pope Benedict XVI.
From Rome: White smoke poured from the Sistine Chapel a little after 7 p.m. Rome time Tuesday.
Rome dispatch: Black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel's chimney Tuesday, announcing no pope was elected in the first round of voting.
The last millennium has shown that papal elections can be fraught with politics and can take months of wrangling to reach a resolution.