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New pope's style an implicit criticism of Benedict's papacy

March 18, 2013 19:00
By Tom Heneghan, Religion Editor VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - With every day Pope Francis reigns, his style reveals more contrasts with his predecessor Benedict in ways that amount to an unspoken criticism of how the retired pontiff conducted his papacy. The enthusiasm former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio has ignited among Catholics by approaching the job like a parish priest rather than a papal monarch points to a yearning for a leader the Church has not seen since the charismatic Pope John Paul II.

Argentina's Fernandez asks Pope to intervene over Falklands

March 18, 2013 18:45
By Gavin Jones ROME (Reuters) - Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez has asked Pope Francis to intervene in support of Buenos Aires in a dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. Fernandez had lunch with the former Buenos Aires Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio in the Vatican shortly after arriving in Rome to attend his inaugural papal mass on Tuesday.

Papal inaugural Mass will straddle religion and politics

March 18, 2013 18:15
By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican was preparing for a huge crowd for Pope Francis's inaugural Mass on Tuesday, an event straddling religion and politics that will bring together European royalty, heads of state and world spiritual leaders. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to cram St. Peter's Square and surrounding streets for the Mass to formally install Francis as the new leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.

Pope receives Argentine president

March 18, 2013 12:17
Vatican City, Mar 18 (EFE).- Pope Francis I received his countrywoman, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez, on Monday for a private audience, the Vatican spokesman said. The pontiff and his guest had lunch following the 20-minute meeting, Federico Lombardi said. Cristina Fernandez is the first head of state received by the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio since he became pope last week. The pontiff intended the meeting as a "gesture of courtesy and affection" toward the president and the Argentine people, Lombardi told Efe.

Argentina's Fernandez asks Pope to intervene over Falklands

March 18, 2013 12:15
By Gavin Jones ROME (Reuters) - Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez has asked Pope Francis to intervene in support of Buenos Aires in a dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, she said on Monday. Fernandez had lunch with the former Buenos Aires Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio in the Vatican shortly after arriving in Rome to attend his inaugural papal mass on Tuesday.

Argentines cheer new Pope Francis at Sunday Mass

March 17, 2013 22:16
The faithful flocked to the parishes of Buenos Aires to celebrate their first Sunday Mass with Pope Francis as leader of the Church, proud that the new pontiff hails from Argentina. "Our entire family came today because this is a special Mass," said Ana Maria Quiros, born in Buenos Aires to a Bolivian family. Her parish, Our Lady of the Rosary of New Pompeii, is located in one of the poorest neighborhoods of the capital, where many Bolivian, Paraguayan and Peruvian workers have settled in recent decades.

US vice president arrives for pope's inauguration mass

March 17, 2013 18:45
US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Rome late Sunday to attend Pope Francis's inauguration mass, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. Biden, a practising Catholic, touched down at Rome's Ciampino military airport, ANSA said. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, former archbishop of Buenos Aires, was elected last Wednesday, becoming the first Latin American leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. Biden is among world leaders who have begun arriving ahead of the mass on Tuesday in St Peter's Square. gd/bm

Folksy pope wins more hearts with first Angelus

March 17, 2013 12:15
Pope Francis on Sunday underscored his man-of-the-people approach with his first Angelus prayer as pontiff, taking a folksy tone in front of 150,000 enthusiastic pilgrims in St Peter's Square. "Brothers and sisters, hello," said the Argentine pope, using the same formula as when he greeted the faithful for the first time after his surprise election on Wednesday. "Thank you for your welcome, and for your prayers," the first pope from Latin America said from a window of the papal apartment high above the square. "Pray for me," he urged.

'Pray for me', new Pope Francis urges at first Angelus

March 17, 2013 08:46
Pope Francis appeared before some 150,000 pilgrims massed in St Peter's Square on Sunday for his first Angelus prayer and asked the faithful to pray for him. "Thank you for your welcome, and for your prayers," the first pope from Latin America said from a window of the papal apartment high above the square. "Pray for me," he added. Dozens of flags from Francis' native Argentina were waving in the square, along with the Vatican's yellow and white standard, as the former cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio recited the traditional Sunday Angelus prayer, the first of his papacy.

URGENT ¥¥¥ New pope appears for first Angelus

March 17, 2013 07:31
Pope Francis appeared in a window high above St Peter's Square on Sunday to give his first Angelus prayer and address, as cheers went up from tens of thousands of people gathered below. Dozens of flags from his native Argentina were waving in the crowd as the former cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio began his first Angelus since his surprise election on Wednesday. gj/jmm
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