On Sunday 24 April, the very same day in which the newly-elected Pope Benedict XVI presided over the solemn inauguration Mass of his Papacy at St. Peter's in Rome, the Franciscan fraternity and the Latin parish of Saint Saviour's in Jerusalem also celebrated a solemn Eucharist in order to thank God for the gift of the new Pope.

The Eucharistic celebration was presided by the Most Reverend Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa.  Together with him the Parish priest, the Custodial Vicar, the Guardian of the fraternity of Saint Saviour's and the Dean of the Faculty of Biblical Theology and Archaeology concelebrated at Mass, as well as many other priests who came to participate in the celebration.

Before the homily of the Parish priest, the Fr. Custos gave a short reflection on the Gospel and on the figure of Benedict XVI, who has always underlined the centrality of Jesus Christ in the life of every human person.  He said that Jesus Christ is the one who reveals God in a complete way and who offers himself to give life to all.

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