Vatican Press Secretary Runs Through Highlights Of Inauguration Mass And Unveils Coat Of Arms For Pope Francis

"The Holy See does not invite any country or foreign delegation or country or leader to come to this particular ceremony. We inform the world that this is taking place. Those who wish to come are welcomed, no-one is refused, they may come and take part in the ceremony," said Vatican Press Secretary Father Thomas Rosica in a media briefing.As well as the official delegations, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to cram St. Peter's Square and surrounding streets for the mass to formally install Francis as the new leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics. And the square is likely to be packed from dawn.

"Tomorrow morning at 0850, ten minutes to nine, the Pope will leave Santa Martha, he will get into the vehicle, whether it be the jeep or the pope mobile that will drive him through the square. So as many people as possible can see him," added Father Rosica.

For the enthronement of the Pope, traffic chaos is expected but romans will be compensated with free underground transport for the hardships they will have to endure.

Father Rosica went on to explain the most poignant parts of the ceremony.

"The first two moments of the ceremony consist of the imposition of the pallium and the giving of the ring. The palium is like a woollen scarf made from lamb's wool and it recalls the fact that Jesus is the good shepherd who goes to seek the lost sheep, it's worn around the neck, it's exactly the same palium as Pope Benedict wore," said Rosica.

Whilst at the end of the ceremony the Pope will greet heads of foreign delegations inside the Basilica.

"He will remove his vestments at the Altar, the Chapel of the Pieta and then he will proceed to the front of the Altar, the confession and from there he will receive the heads of the different nations, the heads of the foreign delegations that are here," said Rosica.

During the media briefing, Pope Francis' new coat of arms were unveiled, identical to the one he used in Argentina.

"He has taken the exact same coat of arms he used as Archbishop of Buenos Aires and if you look at the picture there is an IHS there and is also signifying his membership in the society of Jesus, and underneath it you see a star for Mary and to the right you'll see what may appear to be a bunch of grapes but it's not. It is the Nard flower, the Nard and symbolism of St. Joseph."

Since his election last week as the first non-European pope in nearly 1,300 years, Francis has signalled a sharp change of style from his more aloof predecessor, Benedict, and laid out a clear moral path for the 1.2-billion-member Church, which is beset by scandals, intrigue and strife.

The new pope's outgoing nature and sense of humour differs notably from the much more formal Benedict, who last month became the first pope in 600 years to resign.

Francis is seen as having a common touch and the communication skills that the aloof Benedict lacked and has given clear signs already that he will bring a new broom to the crisis-hit papacy, favouring humility and simplicity over pomp and grandeur.