New Pope Willing to Sell Church Assets to Help the Poor, and Save the Trees for the Animals

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Pope Francis wants Church to be poor, and for the poor

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis, giving his clearest indication yet that he wants a more austere Catholic Church, said on Saturday that it should be poor and remember that its mission is to serve the poor.

Francis, speaking mostly off-the-cuff and smiling often, made his comments in an audience for journalists where he explained why he chose to take the name Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi, a symbol of peace, austerity and poverty.

He called Francis "the man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man", and added: "Oh, how I would like a poor Church, and for the poor."

RESPECT NATURE

St. Francis of Assisi, who died in 1226, renounced his family's fortune for a life of charity and poverty and is also revered by environmentalists because he loved nature and preached to animals.

"Right now, we don't have a very good relation with creation," the pope said.

He said that Catholics should remember that Jesus, not the pope, was the centre of the Church. At the end of his address, switching from Italian into Spanish, he also made a gesture to non-believers and members of other religions.

"I told you I would willingly give you a blessing. Since many of you do not belong to the Catholic Church and others are non-believers, from the bottom of my heart I give this silent blessing to each and every one of you, respecting the conscience of each one of you but knowing that each one of you is a child of God. May God bless all of you," he said.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20130316/US-POPE-POOR/

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Wishful thinking

[james&olya 1,121]

I am surprised to find how much I am beginning to like this new pope!

[Danno 1,228]

I am surprised to find how much I am beginning to like this new pope!

That sentiment soon will pass.