Pope Francis's unexpected encounter with an Ulsterman

Daily Telegraph ^ | 17th March, 2013 | John Bingham

[bronxville]

Pope Francis's unexpected encounter with an Ulsterman

The Telegraph's John Bingham, an Ulster Protestant, was in the Vatican City on Sunday when, suddenly, he found himself face to face with the new Pope. He describes what happened next.

By John Bingham, Vatican City

6:14PM GMT 17 Mar 2013

Mr Paisley, I hope you are sitting down if you read this.

In an unwitting ecumenical gesture, Pope Francis shook hands with the first Ulster protestant of his reign today: me.

Pope Francis greets crowds, including the Daily Telegraph's reporter John Bingham (circled), before his Angelus prayer in the Vatican (Reuters)

I had turned up outside the small parish church of Saint Anna in the Vatican to cover the scene as he attended mass before his first Angelus address in St Peter's square.

Leaning against a hastily erected barrier at the far end of the line, I had not expected him to come up as far as I was - content to look on as he was virtually mobbed by the people of Rome who had turned out for their first up-close glimpse of the new Pope, their bishop.

But, to the obvious concern of his anxious security detail, he darted first one way, then the other, reaching into the crowd, chatting and laughing.

Then there he was, standing right in front of me reaching out his hand and smiling...

continued: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/9936101/Pope-Franciss-unexpected-encounter-with-an-Ulsterman.html

VIDEO: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/9936101/Pope-Franciss-unexpected-encounter-with-an-Ulsterman.html

I haven't read or heard anything about Paisley and Pope Francis as of yet - something to look forward to...heh

[bronxville]

Pope Francis:

“The Lord never gets tired of forgiving, never.

It’s us who gets tired of asking from him forgiveness, because he never gets tired to forgive.”

I needed to hear this...

“There is a priest (Don Gonsalvo from Uraguay) who has been working for a long time with street kids...with drug addicts and for them he has created a school, he has done many things to make Jesus known, and for those street boys and girls today work. Thanks to the studies they have received...they have a chance to work...they believe in and love Jesus.

VIDEO: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/9936101/Pope-Franciss-unexpected-encounter-with-an-Ulsterman.html

Pope Benedict talks yet again about Catholic Social Justice. The priest was present and greeted by the Pope after his sermon. I believe Pope Francis will also talk a lot about environmental stewartship - in the Catholic Christian sense of the word. I’m thinking he’s taking back Catholic teaching from the Liberation Theology thieves who twisted it to suit their marxist agenda.

[Oratam]

[D-fendr]

Well stated, this is my hope also..