Pope Benedict XVI yesterday signalled he was prepared to suffer for upholding Church values as he urged the assembled flock gathered in front of St Peter's Basilica to pray for him so he would "not flee for fear of wolves" during his official inauguration as the shepherd of the universal Church.

In a long homily that was interrupted by applause and cheers at least 32 times, the soft-spoken 78-year-old again described himself as a "weak servant" of God.

"And now", he said, "I must assume this enormous task, which truly exceeds all human capacity. How can I do this? How will I be able to do it?" Then he added, to thunderous cheers of "Viva Benedetto": "I am not alone... Your prayers, my dear friends, your indulgence, your love, your faith and your hope accompany me."

Though his voice was at times strained, his message of togetherness was loud and clear: "With great affection I also greet all those who have been reborn in the sacrament of Baptism but are not yet in full communion with us; and you, my brothers and sisters of the Jewish people... Like a wave of gathering force, my thoughts go out to all men and women of today, to believers and non-believers alike."

In line with tradition, the Pope was presented with the two symbols of his power: the palium, made of pure wool to reflect his role as a shepherd, was draped around his shoulders; while the gold fisherman's ring, bearing the image of St Peter and a boat, which acts as his official seal, was placed on his finger.

The ceremony also included a notable departure from the past, with 12 people, ranging from a married couple to a bishop, performing an act of obedience before the Pope, formerly only carried out by cardinals. Dignitaries from the Pope's native Germany and around the world gathered in front of St Peter's Basilica for the event, with Malta's delegation headed by President Eddie Fenech Adami and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi who took their seats around 90 minutes before the 10 a.m. start. Other notable guests included the Pope's priest brother, Georg, and his predecessor's long-serving private secretary, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz.

The ceremony that took place under a balmy and unpredictable Rome sky lasted two hours and 40 minutes - exactly the same duration as Pope John Paul II's funeral service two weeks ago. The austere setting of that occasion was replaced by lush green lawns and floral arrangements, while the bells were much more joyous in tone.

But Benedict XVI was in no mood to forget his predecessor: "In the suffering that we saw on the Holy Father's face in those days of Easter, we contemplated the mystery of Christ's Passion and we touched his wounds," he said.

The Pope also described John Paul II's demise as an event in which it became "wonderfully evident" that the Church was alive, though he stopped short of specifying in which direction he planned to take it: "At this moment there is no need for me to present a programme of governance... My real programme of governance is not to do my own will, not to pursue my own ideas, but to listen, together with the whole Church, to the word and the will of the Lord."

But he admitted, with sorrow, that the net containing St Peter's fish had become torn and urged the crowd to do all they could to pursue the path to unity in an effort to mend it.

As the ceremony ended to a frantic din of pealing bells, he climbed, attired in golden robes, into an open-top vehicle that edged its way towards the flag-waving crowd. It was time for the Pope to greet his people. And the multitude who descended on Rome from his homeland were not the only ones on his mind. His arms were extended to embrace everybody.