Vatican City - In a broad message of outreach to formally begin his papacy, Pope Benedict XVI stressed his church's shared bonds with Jews and other Christians and promised followers Sunday he would not ignore their voices in leading the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics.
The pope's first major homily in St. Peter's Square also was noteworthy for what it left out: no mention of any current political issues or direct overtures toward Muslims although he paid respects "to believers and non-believers alike."
"My real program of governance is not to do my own will, not to pursue my own ideas, but to listen, together with the whole church, to the word and the will of the Lord," the pontiff told a gallery of dignitaries, spiritual leaders and more than 350,000 pilgrims in his German-accented Italian.
The pope did not elaborate, but it suggested his papacy could study some pressing issues such as greater social activism and ways to reverse the decline of church attendance and vocations in the West. As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger — before his election as pope — he clearly opposed any fundamental changes such as ending bans on contraception or women priests.
The lack of a political edge to the homily also hinted Benedict may be more cautious than his predecessor, John Paul II, in using the Vatican's clout in international affairs.
The 78-year-old pontiff appeared tired and coughed several times into a handkerchief that he pulled from within a sleeve of his golden vestments. But he looked invigorated — smiling and waving — while being driven over the square's cobblestones on an open-air vehicle after the Mass to formally invest him with the papacy.
"At first I though he'd be stern and scolding," said Walter Bonner, who traveled from Italy's German-speaking Alpine region. "But he turns out to be more like a grandfather."
The inclusive tone of the homily — given after he received the Fisherman's Ring and other symbols of papal authority — added fodder to the deep reassessment of Benedict since his election Tuesday. He emerged from the conclave followed by his reputation as rigid and dogmatic after 24 years as the Vatican's chief overseer of doctrine. But he quickly displayed a style of openness he said was inspired by John Paul II — who he said is now "truly at home" among the saints.
One of Benedict's first acts was a personal greeting to the head of Rome's Jewish community. On Sunday, he noted "a great shared spiritual heritage" with Jews.
Benedict's effort to reach out to Jews carries an added dimension because of his membership in the Hitler Youth and later as a conscript into the German army during World War II. He said he was forced into both roles.
In Israel, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said the pope's words shows his desire to continue John Paul's interfaith efforts and "forge even stronger ties between Israel and the Vatican and between Jews and Christians." Most Jewish leaders could not attend the Mass because it coincided with the weeklong Passover holiday.
The pope also extended a hand to all Christians, quoting Scriptures with images of a separated flock. "Let us do all we can to pursue the path toward unity," he said.
"Finally, like a wave gathering force," he added at another point in the 30-minute homily, "my thoughts go out to all men and women today, to believers and non-believers alike."
Here, too, the pope stepped gently onto sensitive ground. In 2000, while serving at the Vatican's powerful office that guides doctrine, he issued a document that angered other Christians and faiths by framing salvation in only Catholic terms.
But he went no further into church doctrine in his homily — unlike his pre-conclave comments that stressed obedience to absolute truths of morality and faith. Instead, he proclaimed humility at facing "this enormous task, which truly exceeds all human capacity."
"Pray for me," he said several times.
The Mass — known as the Ceremony of Investiture — brought Benedict back to the steps of St. Peter's Basilica where he led the funeral rites for John Paul on April 8. Both events brought huge crowds and required sweeping security measures, including anti-missile batteries on alert, no-fly zones over central Rome and police boats patrolling the rain-swollen Tiber River.
The list of dignitaries included German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Queen Sofia of Spain, and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the president's brother.
Among the religious leaders: Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams; Metropolitan Chrisostomos, a top envoy for Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world's Christian Orthodox, and a senior representative of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Kirill.
Benedict's brother, the Rev. Georg Ratzinger, had a prominent seat on the basilica esplanade. It was "different" seeing his brother after his papal election.
"But soon we were back to normal," he said.
Clutching his pastoral staff, Benedict began the ceremony by walking into the area under the basilica where St. Peter is believed to be buried, paying homage to the first pope and blessing the tomb with incense as a choir chanted.
He emerged and looked out over the square. Pilgrims hoisted flags from every continent, including many from John Paul's native Poland. Fathers held their children aloft for a better look. The crush of followers presented snapshots of stunning variety: Nigerian women in flower-print dresses, Bavarian Germans in traditional felt hats, American seminarians in clerical garb and baseball caps.
"We don't know much about him, but he seems good," said Enrico Protti, an artisan from Asti, near the northern city of Turin. "If we can, we'll bring a flower also to (the tomb of) John Paul."
Two attendants carrying trays presented Benedict with the symbols of the papacy.
On his left hand, he slipped on the Fisherman's Ring, which is emblazoned with an image of Peter casting his fishing nets. Over his vestments, he draped the woolen pallium or shawl — a narrow shawl of white lamb and sheep's wool embroidered with five silk crosses that symbolize the pope's role as a shepherd taking care of his flock.
The pallium was pierced by three golden pins to symbolize the nails driven into the cross on which Christ was crucified, and the red color of the crosses is for Christ's blood.
Then 12 followers — symbolizing Christ's 12 disciples — lined up and pledged loyalty to Benedict, kneeling before him and kissing his golden ring. The first in the procession were three cardinals. The last were two young Catholics from Sri Lanka and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The aura of John Paul was strong.
Some pilgrims carried portraits of the late pontiff. Even Benedict referred often to him often and echoed the words John Paul gave at his 1978 installation Mass: "Do not be afraid."
He also drew long sustained cheers — one of more than a dozen ovations — when he described the late pope as being accompanied by the saints. Many Catholics have urged for swift sainthood for John Paul, but Benedict did not mention possible canonization.
The two-hour ceremony closed with Benedict traveling through St. Peter's Square in a white, uncovered vehicle. He stood and greeting the crowd as an aide held down his robes. Despite the security worries, there was no protective covering around the pope.