Pope Francis makes his way to his first Palm Sunday Mass, during which he reminded the faithful that the church exists to serve the poor
Pope Francis doubled-down on his vision for the Catholic Church, using his first Palm Sunday mass to remind 250,000 Catholics packing St. Peters Square to serve the poor.
My grandmother used to say, 'Burial shrouds don't have pockets,'" Francis said a variation of the adage, "You can't take it with you."
Christian joy "isn't born from possessing a lot of things, he later added.
The comment was yet another example of Francis habit of making off-the-cuff remarks to connect directly with the faithful.
St. Peter's Square was packed for Pope Francis first Palm Sunday Mass
It was also in keeping with the first Jesuit Popes exaltation of a humble existence a sign, Vatican observers say, that Francis is keen to restore order to the church burdened by scandals.
As thousands waved the traditional olive branches and palm fronds under hazy skies, Latin Americas first Pope recalled Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, which commemorates the Sunday before Easter.
Jesus "awakened so many hopes in the heart, above all among humble, simple, poor, forgotten people, those who don't matter in the eyes of the world," he said.
Francis, who was elected to the papacy March 13, wore bright red robes over a white cassock as he presided over the mass at an altar sheltered by a white canopy on the steps of St Peter's Basilica.
Francis to faithful: Give up your riches to help the poor* - NY Daily News