Pope Francis Urges Protection of Creation, Weak

Pope Francis waves as he is driven through the crowd prior to his inaugural Mass, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Pope Francis thrilled tens of thousands of people on Tuesday gathered for his installation Mass, taking a long round-about through St. Peter's Square and getting out of his jeep to bless a disabled man in a wheelchair in the crowd. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

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By Ellen Kurt

Story Created: Mar 19, 2013 at 5:11 AM CDT

Story Updated: Mar 19, 2013 at 6:37 AM CDT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has urged princes, presidents, sheikhs and thousands of ordinary people gathered for his installation Mass to protect God's creation, the weakest and the poorest of the world.

He is officially beginning his ministry as the 266th pope with a clear focus of his priorities.

Francis was interrupted by applause several times during his homily Tuesday, including when he spoke of the need to protect the environment and serve one another with love and tenderness and not allow "omens of destruction," hatred, envy and pride to "defile our lives."

Francis said the pope "must open his arms to protect all of God's people and embrace with tender affection the whole of humanity, especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important."

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