In
this photo made available by the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore
Romano, Pope Francis greets director of the Holy See Press Office Rev.
Federico Lombardi, left, during a special gathering for thousands of
journalists, media workers and guests the at the Vatican, Saturday,
March 16, 2013. (Photo: AP)
(TheBlaze/AP) — The focus of Pope
Francis’ papacy began to emerge Saturday as he offered some intimate
insights into the conclave that elected him pontiff, describing how he
was immediately inspired to name himself after St. Francis of Assisi
because he wants to see a church that is “for the poor.”
His comments provided further evidence
that this first Latin American papacy would be one that looks beyond the
confines of the church itself to the most disadvantaged, named for a
13th-century friar who renounced a wealthy, dissolute lifestyle to
embrace a life of poverty and simplicity and go out in the countryside
to preach a message of joy and peace.
“Let me tell you a story,” Pope Francis
began in a break from his prepared text during an audience for a few
thousand journalists and Vatican communications officials in the
Vatican’s auditorium.
He described how during the conclave he
was comforted by his friend, Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes, as the
votes were going his way and it seemed “a bit dangerous” that he would
reach the two-thirds necessary to be elected.
When the threshold was reached, applause erupted in the frescoed Sistine Chapel.
“He (Hummes) hugged me. He kissed me. He said, `Don’t forget about the poor!’” Francis recalled.
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