Posted on 12/21/2013 8:58:16 AM PST by MarkBsnr
More than two million people have flocked to Pope Francis' general audiences in St. Peter's Square since his election in March, four times the number that Pope Benedict drew in all of 2012.
The Vatican said on Wednesday it had issued 1,548,500 tickets for the 30 Wednesday general audiences Francis has held since his election on March 13 as the first non-European pope in 1,300 years.
But it said the actual number was "much larger" because no tickets are needed for the rear section of the square and surrounding streets, which accommodate overflow. That area, which fits at least 20,000, is regularly filled during Francis' audiences.
The Vatican did not issue comparative figures on Wednesday but figures released on Jan. 4 showed that 447,000 tickets were issued for the 43 general audiences held by former Pope Benedict in all of 2012.
The pope, who last week was named Time Magazine's Person of the Year, has drawn people to the Vatican because of his outgoing, simple and friendly style. Benedict was more reserved and far less spontaneous.
Francis has forsaken many of the trappings used by his predecessors. He has given up the spacious papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace for a small apartment in a guest house and is driven in a regular car instead of the papal limousine.
Francis has also proven to be hugely popular because of his statements urging the Church to be closer to the poor and to be more merciful and less condemning. The crowds at Francis' general audiences have often topped 100,000, forcing police to close off the main boulevard leading to the Vatican to accommodate more people.
The Vatican newspaper said Francis telephoned Benedict to exchange Christmas greetings. Benedict is living in a former convent on the Vatican grounds and has the title Pope Emeritus. Tickets to audiences and all other papal events are issued for free by the Vatican's Prefecture of the Pontifical Household and usually distributed through parishes and Church institutions.
Pope Francis:
To Muslims throughout the World
It gives me great pleasure to greet you as you celebrate ‘Id al-Fitr’, so concluding the month of Ramadan, dedicated mainly to fasting, prayer and almsgiving.
Nope. YOU made the statement so YOU give me the substance.
Source? Context? How does this prove your view?
I made the statement. It’s up to you to refute my statement. Go for it.
Who do you think I am? Your personal errand boy?
So now we know you are a male. LOL!
Does it make it difference? And who’s “we”?
I do my own errands.
When you make a statement, you should do so with substantive proof....particularly if you are asked to substantiate a something specific that you have posted.
Anyone can make a statement. You can state anything you wish...but proving it to be true is apparently beyond your capability.
Why were you even concerned about my gender? Is that an obsession of yours? Who are you to judge?
So, you have no proof. I think anyone who reads the thread can see that to be the case.
Also, how often do you pray for members of the hierarchy who do not do what YOU think they should? Is it more often than criticizing them?
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
I pulled the above directly from the Vatican’s website. The fact that you requested a source indicates you know less than me about the Pope’s view of Islamism.
Then give the URL and the writing from which it came.
How exactly does it indicate such?
Every night before I go to bed.
Very Good!
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