22 October 2013

March 13, 2013 Pope Francis

It is significant that no other pope since St Francis's time ever (apparently) considered taking his name. This papacy is going to be interesting.
What Pope Francis did not wear on the balcony is also significant. He did not wear the red mozetta (shoulder cape) and with it the embroidered papal stole, that new popes usually wear at their first appearance. He put on the stole only when he gave his blessing, and took it off again immediately after. Strong signals of a new, simple style. We're not likely to see Pope Francis in the triple tiara.
I was leaning in the direction of the Archbishop of Milan, which is the direction that most speculation I was reading went. And now it transpires that Pope Francis had been runner-up to Benedict in 2005.
It is also interesting that he referred to himself as "Bishop of Rome"....I don't think he'll be wearing the very costly red shoes either.
 
 
 

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