Breaking with tradition, Pope Francis delivered off-the-cuff remarks about God’s power to forgive, instead of reading from a written speech, for the first Sunday window appearance of his papacy.
He also spoke only in Italian beginning with “buon giorno” (good day) and ending with “buon pranzo” (have a good lunch) instead of greeting the faithful in several languages as his last few predecessors had done.
His comments and humour delighted a crowd of more than 150,000 in St Peter’s Square, drawing cheers and laughter.
Earlier he made an impromptu appearance before the public from a side gate of the Vatican, startling passers-by and prompting cheers, before delivering a six- minute homily brief by church standards at the Vatican’s tiny parish church.
Before he entered St Anna’s Church to celebrate Mass, he heartily shook hands with parishioners and kissed babies.
After Mass he put his security detail to the test as he waded into the street just outside St Anna’s Gate. As the traffic light at the intersection turned green he stepped up to the crowd, grasping outstretched hands.
The atmosphere was so casual that several people even gripped him on the shoulder.
A few minutes later, as the traffic light turned red, he ducked back inside the Vatican’s boundaries to dash upstairs for the window appearance from the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace.
Hundreds of extra traffic police were deployed yesterday morning to control crowds and vehicles, for it was also the day of Rome’s annual marathon.
Bus routes were rerouted and many streets were closed off in an attempt to channel the curious and faithful up the main boulevard from the Tiber river to St Peter’s Square.
Giant video screens were set up so the huge crowd could get a close-up look at the Pope, and dozens of medical teams were on hand for any emergencies.