Major Rome square renamed for John Paul II

ROME (AP) — A corner of a big Rome piazza, known for hosting free rock concerts and political rallies, will be renamed after late pontiff John Paul II, with Pope Francis coming to the unveiling ceremony Sunday.

While Francis instantly proved to be a crowd pleaser — about 100,000 people turned out in St. Peter's Square Sunday and a nearby street for his noon blessing — the mention of the widely beloved John Paul still prompts affectionate cheers. When Francis noted that John Paul "closed his eyes to this world" exactly eight years ago this month, in 2005, the new pope drew so much applause, he couldn't finish his sentence as he spoke from the papal studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square.

Francis invited people to join him later in Rome's main church, St. John in Lateran Basilica. Pontiffs are also the bishop of Rome, and a traditional installation ceremony at the basilica formally recognizes that Francis is Rome's bishop as well as the leader of the worldwide Roman Catholic church.

Before entering the basilica, Francis was scheduled to attend the unveiling of a plaque on a corner of the square near the church, naming that part of the piazza after John Paul. The late pontiff enthusiastically embraced his role as Rome's bishop, visiting hundreds of city parishes on Sunday mornings.

Francis might be the pope who decides whether another miracle has been attributed to John Paul's intercession, which would enable the late, Polish-born pontiff to enjoy the church's highest honor, sainthood. The church process to certify a first miracle needed for John Paul's beatification went exceptionally fast. The six years it took from his death until Pope Benedict XVI beatified him in 2011 was the shortest time in modern history. Beatification is the last formal step before sainthood.

The vast St. John in Lateran piazza, which can hold hundreds of thousands of people, is a popular venue for free rock concerts on Labor Day, May 1, and a frequent rallying point for union leaders and politicians. Rome's city hall said the square was picked as an apt place to honor John Paul after consulting with an Italian cardinal who serves as the pope's vicar general for the Rome diocese.

Pope Francis seemed to be adding a new twist to the role of public squares in everyday life. At his Vatican appearance Sunday, he encouraged faithful to "go into the piazzas and announce Christ our savior" to the people. "Bring the Good News with sweetness and respect," he added. The "Good News" refers to the Gospels.

John Paul, then Benedict, and now Francis have all made shoring up flagging faith on the traditionally Christian European continent as well as in other affluent areas of the world a priority of their leadership. The Vatican is also keen on preserving Catholic loyalty in places like South America, where dynamic evangelical sects have been attracting baptized Catholics away from their faith, as well as encourage growing communities of Catholics in Africa and Asia.

The new pope is expected to lead Catholic youth in pep rallies this summer in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, during a pilgrimage that would take the world's first pope to be born in South America back to his home continent.

When Francis spoke of the installation ceremony Sunday evening, he urged the crowd to pray with him so that together, "bishop and people, walk in faith and charity."

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Mamma mia! Ecstatic scenes on St. Peter's Square

VATICAN CITY (AP) — In one electrifying moment, the rain-soaked crowd on St. Peter's Square lit up with a frenzy of passion.

Before, the pilgrims were orderly and polite, subdued by suspense and unyielding rain. After, complete mayhem as it became clear that white smoke was billowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney.

Nuns threw their hands in the air, tears rolling down their cheeks, and chants of "Long Live the Pope" thundered across the cobblestoned piazza.

Complete strangers hugged, overwhelmed by emotion. A young woman sobbed uncontrollably, barely able to stand. "Mamma Mia, we have a pope!" cried Italian nun Sister Eugenia. "We have a holy father!"

The election of Argentina's Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as the first pope from the developing world touched off a wave of jubilation in the storied square where popes have greeted the faithful for centuries. Many had been expecting a drawn-out conclave due to swirling talk of divisions among cardinals tasked with electing the pope, following the shock resignation of Benedict XVI.

But Bergoglio — who took the name Pope Francis — was elected with startling speed after five rounds of voting over two days.

"I can't explain how happy I am right now," said Ben Canete, a 32-year-old Filipino, jumping up and down in excitement.

Amid joy, there was also the usual dose of confusion — although this time it wasn't over the color of the smoke that has befuddled chimney watchers in conclaves past.

A group of Filipino visitors were overjoyed, convinced that the new pope announced by the cardinal on the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica was their countryman, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.

It didn't matter much when they found out it wasn't.

"I really don't know him, but it doesn't matter. We have a new pope," said Marben Moralias from the Philippines. "God surprised us.

Argentines in the crowd went blank-faced with amazement. "I can't believe it," said one woman from Bergoglio's home country.

After the white smoke billowed, the crowds went wild as the Vatican and Italian military bands marched through the square and up the steps of the basilica, followed by Swiss Guards in silver helmets and full regalia.

They played the introduction to the Vatican and Italian anthems and the crowd, which numbered around 100,000, joined in, waving flags from countries around the world.

Catholics and non-Catholics alike were swept up in the excitement, including Elizabeth Asher, a 21-year-old Jewish student at the American University of Rome.

"It was so wonderful to see how happy everyone was," said Asher, of Montclair, New Jersey. "They were cheering 'papa, papa.' They probably didn't even know who he is, but they were just so happy to have a new pope."

It took a moment of silent prayer led by the new Pope Francis himself to get everyone to calm down. As he bent his head humbly after asking for the prayers of the faithful, the square packed with people from around the world suddenly went silent in reverence.

Then, as the crowd streamed out of the square, the celebrations continued.

"I'm so happy because the new pope is from Latin America. That means we are a big people," said Maggy Pena, a 45-year-old immigrant from the Dominican Republic. "For the first time we have a pope. And next we will have an American president. You'll see!"

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AP photographer Emilio Morenatti contributed to this report.

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