By Joseph Austin
Toward the end of a Mass of thanksgiving at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception celebrating the inauguration of Pope Francis March 19, a brass and timpani ensemble erupted with a triumphant hymn.
With hands raised, the cantor signaled for the Washington congregation to join in.
“Christus vincit! Christus regnat! Christus, Christus imperat!” — “Christ conquers! Christ reigns! Christ commands!”
The Massgoers sang along with the choir, and then almost abruptly, the instruments of the brass ensemble gave way to a quiet duet between the choir and a mezzo-piano organ.
The stark contrast between the ensemble’s jubilant music and the low tones of the choir and organ seemed to be a theme not only in the musical aspects of the Mass, but a reflection of the style of Pope Francis, as the new leader of a worldwide church and a man devoted to simplicity.
“How is it that in the Scriptures Joseph, entrusted with such an overwhelming task, never speaks?” Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States, asked in his homily.
“His silence signifies humility and obedience, a constant attentiveness to the voice of God in his life. He is in awe of the one who has called him to such a great responsibility,” he said.
Archbishop Vigano was the principal celebrant of the Mass, which took place the same day as the pope’s inauguration at St. Peter’s Basilica. It also was the feast of St. Joseph, patron of the universal church. Msgr. Walter Rossi, rector of the shrine, concelebrated the Mass.
From the very beginning of his papacy, Pope Francis showed his humility to the world in asking the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics to “pray to the Lord that he bless me.”
In choosing the name Francis, he showed the world “what he is about and what he intends to be and to do,” explained Archbishop Vigano.
“Our Holy Father chooses as his model the one who, in his humility and poverty and simplicity, reached out to the poor by becoming poor himself,” he continued.
In explaining why he chose to be called after St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis told journalists at the Vatican March 16 that during the conclave, when it appeared likely he would be elected, Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes told him: “Don’t forget the poor.”
At the national shrine, Archbishop Vigano told the congregation in his homily: “We join together with all the people of God throughout the world as we pray that the Holy Father, installed as pope today in Rome, will be filled with wisdom and strength to carry out the great task that is before him.”
In closing he remarked on the great journey ahead for the new papacy “to rebuild the church with eyes ever fixed on the crucified Jesus.”
Silence enveloped the crowd-filled upper church as Archbishop Vigano returned to his chair after his homily.
People from every background took part in the Mass — from the Hispanic woman with the rosary earrings to the African woman dressed in her cultural garb, from the Haitian woman who could barely speak English to the young child who was there with her mother.
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is, when brethren live together in unity,” sang the choir after the Communion processional.
After the Mass, Archbishop Vigano thanked the large group of foreign diplomats for attending the service.
The diplomats, stationed in the U.S., represented many continents including Africa, South America, Europe, Africa and Oceania.
“It was beautiful,” Maryland resident and Haitian native Justine Marseille told Catholic News Service afterward. “I can feel the Holy Spirit, the love, and his faithfulness to the church when he said I will be with you always.”
“It is good to be here,” Hawaii native James Delos Reyes said. He was chaperoning a large group of seventh- and eighth-grade students from St. Theresa Catholic School in Kauai, Hawaii, on a class trip to the East Coast. The Mass was “very exciting,” he added. – CNS