A special Mass was held on Tuesday for the inauguration of Pope Francis. Speaking to an estimated crowd of 200,000 at the Vatican, the Pope said, “I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political and social life, and all men and women of goodwill: Let us be protectors of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment.”
These themes seem to be indicative of what Pope Francis will focus on during his time as pontiff.
According to World News on NBC.com, Pope Francis said his idea of protection is "respecting each of God's creatures and respecting the environment in which we live."
He said:
It means protecting people, showing loving concern for each and every person, especially children, the elderly, those in need, who are often the last we think about. It means caring for one another in our families: Husbands and wives first protect one another, and then, as parents, they care for their children, and children themselves, in time, protect their parents. It means building sincere friendships in which we protect one another in trust, respect, and goodness. In the end, everything has been entrusted to our protection, and all of us are responsible for it. Be protectors of God’s gifts!
Among other world leaders attending the inaugural Mass were Vice President Joe Biden. and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
Biden and Pelosi are both pro-abortion Catholics which is clearly against the teaching of the Church. In Latin America, Cardinal Bergoglio clearly stated that being disallowed holy communion was a consequence for those who facilitated an abortion, politicians included. [Life Action News]
Nevertheless, The Washington Times reported that both Biden and Pelosi took communion in Vatican Square.
The Reverend Frank Pavone, founder of Priests for Life, a U.S. based Catholic pro-life group said "Vice President Biden and Nancy Pelosi should certainly not receive Communion, either at the papal installation or anywhere else. Communion means 'union" and they are not in union with the Church on the most fundamental moral issue of the right to life."
In addition to Biden and Pelosi, NewsMax reported that the Ecumencial Patriarch of Constantinople attended the Mass and as such was the first Greek Orthodox leader in over 1,000 years to attend such a Mass.
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