Vatican’s Pope for Defending the Weakest in Society

VATICAN,(ST)_ POPE Francis inaugurated his papacy on Tuesday  morning with an address calling for the defense of the weakest in society.

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.

Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina, took his name in honour of St. Francis of Assisi, a symbol of poverty, simplicity, charity and love of nature.

He said that whenever human beings failed to care for the environment and each other, “The way is opened to destruction and hearts are hardened. Tragically in every period of history there are ‘Herods’ who plot death, wreak havoc and mar the countenance of men and women.”

The hallmark simplicity of Francis, the first Jesuit pope, has fuelled hopes for change and renewal in a Church beset by a deep global crisis.

“He is a simple, humble person, he is not like the untouchable popes, he seems like someone normal people can reach out to,” said one of those in the huge crowd, Argentine electrician Cirigliano Valetin, 51, who works in southern Italy.

The new pope called for world leaders to be “protectors of one another and of the environment… Let us not forget that hatred, envy and pride defile our lives. Being protectors, then, also means keeping watch over our emotions, over our hearts.”

Pope Francis is the first Pope from Latin America which includes the largest part of Catholics in the World.

T. Fateh