The Pope ascended the throne

Pope Francis has officially ascended the throne at the Vatican. In St. Peter's Square he was presented with the symbols of faith: the "fisherman's ring" and a pallium made of lamb's wool.

Photo: Reuters

Saint Peter is the first Pope, and the “fisherman’s ring” is a reminder that Christ invited Peter the fisherman to become a “fisher of men.” Pope Francis asked that a ring be made for him from silver, rather than the traditional gold one, to save money.

Francis drove around the Vatican's St. Peter's Square in a special popemobile, greeting and blessing those gathered, kissing children and smiling at the cameras. Then he went to pray in St. Peter's Basilica, went down to the square, where he took the oath.

Photo: Reuters

Guests from 130 countries came to the enthronement ceremony, from Russia - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexey Meshkov and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theater Valery Gergiev, State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin and Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk.

Photo: Reuters

The live broadcast of the enthronement was watched all over the world; a crowd of thousands gathered in front of the screen near the Cathedral in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, where the new pope came from.

The new Pope was elected on March 13 after the resignation of Benedict XVI , who resigned due to health problems. The new pope was 76-year-old Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina, who chose the name Francis.