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Pope Francis took possession of his cathedral as Bishop of Rome and spoke about how God�s mercy and patience should challenge everyone to find the courage to accept his love. �Dear brothers and sisters,� he began his homily, �let us be enveloped by the mercy of God; let us trust in his patience, which always gives us more time. Let us find the courage to return to his house, to dwell in his loving wounds, allowing ourselves be loved by him and to encounter his mercy in the sacraments.� The Pope�s installation in the �cathedra� or seat in St. John Lateran Basilica at around 5:30 p.m. on April 7 signaled that he is now officially taking up his duties as the Bishop of Rome. When he arrived at the basilica, Pope Francis first participated in the renaming of the small square outside of the church from St. John Lateran to Blessed John Paul II Square. He then entered the basilica and greeted everyone as he walked down the aisles. He also individually greeted disabled people in what has become a trademark of his encounters with crowds. In his homily, Pope Francis focused on the theme of God�s mercy, a fitting motif for today�s Feast of Divine Mercy. �What a beautiful truth of faith this is for our lives: the mercy of God! God�s love for us is so great, so deep; it is an unfailing love, one which always takes us by the hand and supports us, lifts us up and leads us on,� he said. Noting that the Gospel reading for today is about St. Thomas seeing Jesus after his resurrection and how when he first heard the news of his rising from the dead he did not believe it. �And how does Jesus react? With patience: Jesus does not abandon Thomas in his stubborn unbelief; he gives him a week�s time, he does not close the door, he waits.