Pilgrims cheer humble pope

Throngs of faithful from around the world cheered the “humble” Pope Francis Tuesday at his grand inauguration in St Peter’s Square, saying they hope he will bring the Church closer to ordinary people.

Throngs of faithful from around the world cheered the “humble” Pope Francis Tuesday at his grand inauguration in St Peter’s Square, saying they hope he will bring the Church closer to ordinary people.

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Nearly 200,000 pilgrims packed into the sun-baked square and the avenue leading up to it, shouting “Long live the pope” as Latin America’s first pontiff stood in a white, open-topped vehicle that wound its way slowly through the crowds.

“A pope from a country which has such great inequality is a source of great hope,” said Susanna Montalvo from Argentina, where the 76-year-old pontiff comes from.