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Pope Francis Hangs Out With Pilgrims, Gives 1st Angelus

Makes surprise appearance at Vatican side gate

By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 17, 2013 6:33 AM CDT

(Newser) – Those looking for pomp and circumstance from Pope Francis' first Sunday as pontiff got instead an eyeful of his humble, man-of-the-people charm offensive. Ahead of his first Angelus blessing, Francis slipped out a side gate of the Vatican and mingled with startled pilgrims, even kissing babies and asking one, "Are you a good boy?" and joking, "Are you sure?" Francis then headed not to St. Peter's Basilica, but to the Vatican's tiny church, where he gave a five-minute impromptu homily, reports the AP. He greeted church-goers one by one as they left, notes the BBC, asking them to pray for him.

The theme continued with the pope's first Angelus blessing, which was delivered at the noon hour from his studio window to a crowd of some 100,000 and shouts of "Francesco!" Instead of reading a written speech, Francis again spoke off the cuff, about God's power to forgive. Afterward, he sent his first tweet from his @Pontifex account: "Dear friends, I thank you from my heart and I ask you to continue to pray for me. Pope Francis."

Pope Francis greets faithful at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013. Pope Francis began his first Sunday as pontiff by making an impromptu appearance from a side gate of the Vatican.
Pope Francis greets faithful at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013. Pope Francis began his first Sunday as pontiff by making an impromptu appearance from a side gate of the Vatican.   (AP Photo/Antonello Nusca)
Pope Francis kisses a crucifix, at the Vatican Sunday, March 17, 2013.
Pope Francis kisses a crucifix, at the Vatican Sunday, March 17, 2013.   (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano)
Pope Francis greets faithful at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.
Pope Francis greets faithful at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.   (AP Photo/Antonello Nusca)
People gather at St. Peter's Square following the Angelus by Pope Francis at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.
People gather at St. Peter's Square following the Angelus by Pope Francis at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.   (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
Pope Francis greets faithful at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.
Pope Francis greets faithful at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.   (AP Photo/Antonello Nusca)
Pope Francis delivers his Angelus prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.
Pope Francis delivers his Angelus prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.   (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
Pope Francis delivers his Angelus prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.
Pope Francis delivers his Angelus prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.   (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano)
Pope Francis delivers his Angelus prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.
Pope Francis delivers his Angelus prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.   (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis speaks to the crowd in St. Peter's Square before saying the Angelus prayer at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.
Pope Francis speaks to the crowd in St. Peter's Square before saying the Angelus prayer at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.   (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Pope Francis speaks to the crowd in St. Peter's Square before saying the Angelus prayer at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.
Pope Francis speaks to the crowd in St. Peter's Square before saying the Angelus prayer at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.   (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Pope Francis delivers his Angelus prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.
Pope Francis delivers his Angelus prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.   (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Pope Francis waves before delivering his Angelus prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.
Pope Francis waves before delivering his Angelus prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.   (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Crowds gather on the Via della Conciliazione outside of St. Peter's Square as they wait for Pope Francis to conduct the Angelus at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.
Crowds gather on the Via della Conciliazione outside of St. Peter's Square as they wait for Pope Francis to conduct the Angelus at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.   (AP Photo/Tim Donnelly)
Papal employees set up the microphone for the Angelus prayer by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square, Sunday, March 17, 2013.
Papal employees set up the microphone for the Angelus prayer by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square, Sunday, March 17, 2013.   (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Crowds fill St. Peter's Square as they wait for the Angelus prayer with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.
Crowds fill St. Peter's Square as they wait for the Angelus prayer with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Sunday, March 17, 2013.   (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The moon is seen behind a dome of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, March 16, 2013.
The moon is seen behind a dome of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, March 16, 2013.   (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 15 comments
scalar
Mar 17, 2013 7:45 PM CDT
I agree with eightstring I found an authentic qu “I have learnt most of all from the Jesuit Order. …So far, there has been nothing more imposing on earth than the hierarchical organization of the [Roman] Catholic Church. A good part of that organization I have transported direct to my own [Nazi] party. …The Catholic Church must be held up as an example. …I will tell you a secret. I am founding an order [Ed. Note: the Nazi SS]. …In [Heinrich] Himmler [who would become head of the Nazi SS] I see our Ignatius de Loyola [Ed. Note: the founder of the Jesuit Order].” – Adolph Hitler ote from Hitler:
8string
Mar 17, 2013 5:55 PM CDT
 There is one detail that no one seems to have picked up on and that is, out of seven courant articles running on  Newser there’s no insight into the fact.  The first Jesuit Pope should raise a RED FLAG !!!!! I mean get a clue. The Jesuits are a secretive and shadowy group that tortured and killed a huge number of people, they can’t deny it, it’s history. Here are some historic quotes: "My history of the Jesuits is not eloquently written, but it is supported by unquestionable authorities, [and] is very particular and very horrible. Their [the Jesuit Order’s] restoration [in 1814 by Pope Pius VII] is indeed a step toward darkness, cruelty, despotism, [and] death. … I do not like the appearance of the Jesuits. If ever there was a body of men who merited eternal damnation on earth and in hell, it is this Society of [Ignatius de] Loyola." John Adams (1735-1826; 2nd President of the United States) "It is my opinion that if the liberties of this country – the United States of America – are destroyed, it will be by the subtlety of the Roman Catholic Jesuit priests, for they are the most crafty, dangerous enemies to civil and religious liberty. They have instigated MOST of the wars of Europe." Marquis de LaFayette (1757-1834; French statesman and general. He served in the American Continental Army under the command of General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War.) "The war [i.e., the American Civil War of 1861-1865] would never have been possible without the sinister influence of the Jesuits." Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865; 16th President of the United States) "The Jesuits…are a secret society – a sort of Masonic order – with superadded features of revolting odiousness, and a thousand times more dangerous.” – Samuel Morse (1791-1872; American inventor of the telegraph; author of the book Foreign Conspiracy Against the Liberties of the United States) "[The Jesuits] are the deadly enemies of civil and religious liberty." R. W. Thompson (Ex-Secretary, American Navy)
fractal
Mar 17, 2013 2:32 PM CDT
If he keeps mingling freely like that, some idiot is going to shoot him, and then he will be a martyr pope.  Frankly, I will not be looking forward to the Catholic backlash if that happens.

 
Catholic Church • Vatican • St. Peter's Square • Roman Catholic Church • Pope Francis

 
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