“ Oh, how I wish a Church of the poor and for the poor ! ” --- Our Pope Francis

This month the news of the new Pope drew the global attention through media. You may have known that the Inauguration Mass （就職彌撒） of Pope Francis was celebrated in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican on March 19, 2013. A crowd of nearly 200,000 people attended. 

Do you know who is the first pope? In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said to Peter, “you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 16:18-19) Jesus affirmed Peter’s faith by telling Peter that he would have a special role in history. He charged Peter to feed his lambs and his sheep, therefore St. Peter became the first pope. St. Peter and all the popes that followed him are the spiritual leaders and highest authority of the Church. 

Pope i s the Bi shop of Rome and Successor of St. Peter（教宗是羅馬主教和聖伯多祿繼承人）, for that he received the ring of Peter the Fisherman（漁夫戒指）. He is al so God’s ser vant , the Shepherd of Catholics, and Pastor of the Universal Church （普世教會的牧者）, confirming them in the unity of faith, through doctrine and in charity （藉著信理和仁愛在信德內共融）. He and the Apostle Paul were fathers in faith. 

Pope Francis is the first Jesuit, the first Latin American and the first Pope Francis. The name Francis he took came from St. Francis of Assisi, a saint well-known for leading a life of poverty and simplicity. “True power is service. The Pope must serve all people, especially the poor, the weak, the vulnerable.” Pope Francis said after his installation on Twitter. 

“Yet Christ remains the centre, not the Successors of Peter”, Pope Francis said when he met the media on March 16, “ Christ is the heart of the Church. Without him, Peter and the Church would not exist or have reason to exist. Christ is present in Church and guides her.”