[1]Pope Francis inaugurated his papacy on Tuesday with an address calling for the defence of the weakest in society and of the environment, saying otherwise the way was opened to death and destruction.
Addressing a 200,000-strong crowd and many foreign leaders gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the Argentine Pope underlined his constant message since his election last Wednesday — that the Church’s mission was to defend the poor and disadvantaged.
In line with this, the mass on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica was simpler than the baroque splendour of his predecessor Benedict’s inauguration.
The Church’s mission “means respecting each of God’s creatures and respecting the environment in which we live. It means protecting people, showing loving concern for each and every person, especially children, the elderly, those in need, who are often the last we think about”, he said in the homily.
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/hh1jpg-901