ARGENTINA: Pope Francis makes surprise phone call home to well-wishers in Argentina

Record ID: 447299

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Pope Francis makes surprise phone call home to well-wishers in Argentina
  • Date: 19th March 2013
  • Summary: UENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (MARCH 19, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF BUENOS AIRES CATHEDRAL
  • Embargoed: 3rd April 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVADO5R9VVWCBD60YEEFJBKIUNWM
  • Story Text: Catholics gathered outside the Buenos Aires Cathedral elated by surprise phone call from Pope Francis.

    Pope Francis surprised crowds of Catholic faithful with a telephone call early Tuesday morning (March 19) from the Vatican to the cathedral in Buenos Aires where he used to be archbishop.
    In the hours before the inauguration of Latin America's first pope, thousands of devotees gathered around large television screens set up in the central square of Plaza de Mayo, overlooked by the cathedral and the famous pink presidential palace.
    In his telephone message at 3:30 a.m. local time, Francis, or Francisco as he is known in the Spanish-speaking world, thanked the crowds for their prayers.
    "Thanks for gathering to pray. It's so nice to pray. To look towards the heavens, to look at our heart and to know that we have a good father that is God. Thanks for that. Take care of each other. Don't inflict harm. Look after life, look after the family, look after nature, look after children and the elderly. Don't hate or fight. Leave aside envy and don't criticize people. Have dialogues. And between you, let this desire to protect grow in the heart. And get close to God. God is good. God always forgives and understands. Don't fear. God is the father, get close to him. Let the Virgin bless you and as a mother take care of you. And please don't forget about this bishop who's far away. I love you a lot. Pray for me."
    The Argentine pontiff inaugurated his papacy on Tuesday (March 19) with an address to an estimated 200,000 in St. Peter's Square in Rome, calling for the defense of the weakest in society and of the environment.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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