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One year of Pope Francis: 10 highlights

Agence France-Presse
Tuesday, March 11th, 2014


Pope Francis. AP FILE PHOTO

VATICAN CITY — Ten highlights of Pope Francis’s first year at the helm of the Roman Catholic Church.

March 13, 2013 – Election

“I am a great sinner. Trusting in the mercy and patience of God in suffering, I accept,” the new pope strikes a humble tone as he accepts his election. The theme is continued with his choice of the name Francis and his decision to live in a modest Vatican guesthouse.

March 16, 2013 – A new credo

The basis of the new pope’s philosophy is outlined to the world’s media: “How I would like a poor Church for the poor!”

March 17, 2013 – Mercy matters

The theme of mercy dominates his first Angelus (Sunday) prayers. “The Lord never tires of forgiving. It is we who tire of asking for forgiveness,” he says. “A little mercy makes the world less cold and more just. We must not be afraid of goodness, of tenderness.”

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July 29, 2013 – A new approach to homosexuality?

“If someone is gay and seeks the Lord with good will, who am I to judge?” — on the plane returning from his first overseas trip, to Brazil, Francis responds to a question in terms hailed as marking a shift towards a more conciliatory attitude from the Church towards homosexuality.

September 7, 2013 – Prayers for Syria

Heeding a call from their new pope, Catholics all over the world mark a day of prayer and fasting for Syria. The initiative is seen as a sign of the Vatican reclaiming a role on the global stage.

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