Solidarietà dei vescovi e dei cardinali al Santo Padre

Something unprecedented happened in St. Peter's Square (I was present throughout, in the rain).
(By Robert Moynihan, reporting from Rome)

Never before did the Easter morning liturgy begin with a greeting to the Pope.

This greeting, spoken by one of the Church's most senior cardinals, Angelo Sodano, the Vatican Secretary of State under John Paul II and at the beginning of this pontificate, and the dean of the college of cardinals, went on for several minutes.

(Photo of Cardinal Sodano, dressed in red with his back to the camera, as he spoke his greeting to the Pope this morning at the beginning of the Easter Sunday liturgy in St. Peter's Square, by Albert Cesare)

It was not clear whether this greeting was actually part of the liturgy, as it seemed, coming after the entrance hymn, or was simply a preface to the liturgy, like an announcement at the beginning of Mass -- though such an announcement still ought to come before the entrance hymn.

But, if news is something that happens that is "new," this was news.

And when this cardinal rose to his feet and took the microphone to speak, every newsman within hearing pricked up his ears, thinking, "This is something new."

What did Sodano say?

Essentially, that Catholics around the world love and support Pope Benedict XVI, and will continue to do so no matter how fiercely he his attacked by the media.

Sodano, clearly referring to recent attacks on the Pope from the New York Times and other media outlets which allege that he did not do enough during his many years as an administrator in the Church to halt and punish priests accused of sexually abusing children, said the "people of God" would not be influenced by "petty gossip."

What did Pope Benedict think of Sodano's intervention? It is not clear. During the remarks, the Pope expression seemed to me to contain a certain puzzlement, as if he had not fully expected this intervention, but after the remarks, he embraced Sodano with what seemed to be warmth and appreciation.



(Photo, from the Associated Press, of the Pope embracing Sodano after reading his greeting.)