POPE FRANCIS I UP AND OUT EARLY ON HIS FIRST FULL DAY AS THE NEW HOLY FATHER.............

Pope Francis I, the freshly elected 266th Successor of St. Peter, having spent his first night as Holy Father of the Roman Catholic Church not in the Papal Apartment, but in the nearby Santa Marta hotel hosting the Cardinal Electors, as his new quarters remained sealed off and will need to be made ready for him to occupy.  In little more than twelve hours after his historic choice by the 2013 Conclave, as the First Successoe of St. Peter ever who is from the Americas, breaking Europe's 1,000 year hold on the Papacy, Pope Francis journeyed outside the Vatican for the first time as the new Bishop of Rome, making a personal visit for prayer at the Roman Basilica of St. Mary Major,, as His Holiness said he would last night in his introductory appearance to pray to the Madonna.  Pope Francis  arrived with a nominal entourage, at the Basilica of Mary Major just after 8 a.m. Roman time  carrying a small bouquet of flowers which he placed upon an altar before he knelt and prayed.  One of the priest serving at St. Mary Major, said  they were called ten minutes before the Holy Father arrived at the shrine.  The Papal visited lasted approximately 30 minutes.  After concelebrating his initial Mass as the Roman Pontiff with the members  of the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel this afternoon, from whom, and by whom, he was chosen  it was thought he might go to the Pope's Summer Residence to meet with his predecessor Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI; but the Vatican has announced that visit will occur in coming days, but not today, Friday, or Saturday.  Details of the meeting the Holy Father will hold with the entire College of Cardinals on Friday morning in theSala  Clementina Hall,  a news conference with the 5,600 journalists and media members covering the Conclave and Election of Pope Francis slated for Saturday, and the Apostolic Installation next Tuesday have not been released.............Fr.  Troy