Pope Francis put his humility on display during his first day as pontiff on Thursday, stopping by his hotel to pick up his luggage and pay the bill himself in a decidedly different style for the papacy usually ensconced inside the frescoed halls of the Vatican.
The break from the tradition-minded previous pontificate was evident even in his wardrobe choices. He kept the simple pectoral cross of his days as bishop and eschewed the red cape that Benedict XVI wore when he was presented to the world, choosing instead the simple white cassock of the papacy.
Shuns ‘Vatican One’ limousine
Pope Francis shunned the special chauffeur-driven “Vatican One” limousine after being picked as pontiff, the Vatican said on Thursday. “Instead of the formal Vatican One car he preferred to take the minibus with the other cardinals,” Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said.
The new Pope then dined with the cardinals in a Vatican residence where he thanked them for electing him, but then quipped: “God forgive you for what you've done!”
Just Francis
The Vatican says the new Pope’s official name is Pope Francis, without a Roman numeral.
“It will become Francis I after we have a Francis II,” Rev. Lombardi quipped.
Pope has one lung
Interestingly, Pope Francis had lung surgery in his youth, the Vatican confirmed, and had part of a lung removed in his youth. He is however in good health.
