Before the Mass in St Peter’s Square at which he formally inaugurated his Petrine ministry, Pope Francis greeted the people in the square. At one point he asked for the Popemobile to stop. He had seen a disabled man being supported by his friends. The Pope got out of the vehicle, went over, kissed him gently and blessed him.
This simple, tender gesture was a lived parable of the words he was to address to the Church and the world a short time later.
In a homily fragrant with the Franciscan spirit, Francis called us to be protectors of creation, of each other, and especially of the weak and poor.
“It means protecting all creation, the beauty of the created world, as the Book of Genesis tells us and as Saint Francis of
“In the end, everything has been entrusted to our protection, and all of us are responsible for it. Be protectors of God’s gifts!”
But this must be done in love – “Only those who serve with love are able to protect!”