Posted on 03/14/2013 6:59:03 AM PDT by NYer
During the press briefing today, we were told that after the first appearance and blessing last night, Pope Francis went back to the cardinal’s residence, Casa Santa Marta, on the little bus with the other cardinals rather than take the car with the plates SCV1.
At end of the meal they had together, at the time of toasts and little speeches (absolutely necessary in Italy), he quipped “God forgive you for what you have done.”
As mentioned before, he spoke last night with the former Pope, Benedict. He will visit him soon at Castel Gandolfo.
Pope Francis went this morning, his first full day as Pope, to the Basilia St. Mary Major to venerate the Madonna “Salus Populi Romani“. She is especially dear to the Roman people. Classy. He carried with him a little bouquet of flowers which he left at the altar. He prayed for a while. He visited also the relic of the crib, the manger, of the Nativity, and then went to the Sistine chapel of that Basilica, upon which altar St. Ignatius Loyola said his first Mass on Christmas Eve. And he prayed before the tomb of St. Pius V, also in that chapel.
He returned in one of the squad cars of the Vatican Gendarmes without the big entourage of cars.
He went to the house where I used to live on the V. della Scrofa, to collect his luggage. That is where he was before the conclave. That is where I had met him on various occasions. He went to the office and paid the bill for his room!
He went back to Santa Marta then, to meet people and get organized for the next days.
This evening is the Mass with Cardinals. The Mass will be in Latin with readings in Italian. The sermon could be in Italian. It might be pretty spontaneous. It is probable that we in the press won’t have advance texts, so we will all have to be pretty careful in talking about his words. (What do you want to bet there were speeches prepared already?)
After the Mass tonight, the seals will be removed by Francis from the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace. It sounds as if he is going to move fairly soon to the Apostolic Palace after small adjustments are made.
After, they just went through some schedule stuff, which will already be everywhere by now.
We were told that the General of the Jesuits issued a statement about the election of Francis, a Jesuit. He referred to the special bond of Jesuits with the Pope and their vow of obedience. I look forward to seeing that in some certain Jesuits I have in mind.
The Pope knows Spanish, Italian, German, English, and French and probably some Portuguese.
A question was raised about security given that this Pope is rather spontaneous and informal. The security team will have to do its best given the Pope’s style.
Ping!
He insisted on paying his own bill!
He appears to have much in common with the beloved and hugely popular John XXIII.
He brings a “common man” touch to the papacy and he is not seduced by the trappings and the reality of power.
Pope Francis wants to set an example in how he treats those beneath him.
That makes perfect sense!
When he chose that name, he may have been thinking about the need to repair God’s Church, as well as the current efforts to focus intently on evangelization, like St. Francis of Assisi.
Cardinal Dolan has said that when asked what name he would take the Pope made it clear that he was taking the name Francis to honor St. Francis of Assisi. I would have assumed it was Xavier given his status as a Jesuit but he made it clear he was namimg himslef after Il Poveretto.
I Pray that any similarities are on the surface only...
I’m waiting to see if he allows Plugs Biden to take communion when Biden’s in Rome next week.
If plugs is allowed to share in the Eucharist, I’ll know that this is yet another pope unwilling to excommunicate politicians who publicly refute the Church’s positions on abortion and gay “marriage”.
There is someone else who could learn from this example of humility, grace, frugality and sincerity of purpose. But he won’t.
The world is watching....perhaps we will witness a miracle.
How much does the Pope get paid? Is everything for his living expenses paid by the Church?
Our “dear” leader could learn from this man.
Okay so according to Google the Pope doesn’t get paid until he dies.
So what does he do for spending money? I guess the Church pays for whatever he wants.
Reminds me of the film "Caddyshack." About when Bill Murray said that he caddied for the Dalai Lama...
Other than this, I am very impressed with the new Pontiff, but you can guarantee that crazy Cristina Kirschner will now ratchet up the wardrums..indeed, it will be ironic if Pope Francis' election leads to a war..
When Francis was still a cardinal, did he actually refuse communion to any politician in Argentina? Did he excommunicate anyone?
If he didn’t then, he most likely won’t now....unless he really wanted make a statement.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/14/pope-francis-first-day
The Anglican Communion News Service is reporting some interesting comments about Francis from the Rt Revd Greg Venables, Anglican Bishop of Argentina and former Primate of the Southern Cone. Venables reports what he says are Francis’s views on Anglicans:
He called me to have breakfast with him one morning and told me very clearly that the Ordinariate was quite unnecessary, and that the Church needs us as Anglicans.
The Ordinariate was Pope Benedict’s plan to welcome former Anglicans into the Catholic Church while allowing them to retain some of their customs and traditions.
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