What do popes do

In December , Francis announced the creation of a Vatican committee aimed at fighting sex abuse in the Church, and working with victims and their families. Of the members , four are women, and one — Marie Collins — is an abuse survivor.

The group also includes Cardinal Sean O'Malley, archbishop of Boston, the city in which the US sex abuse crisis story originally broke in In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Francis spoke about the issue of sex abuse, and praised the former Pope Benedict for being "courageous" in his attempts to curb it.

In the same interview, Francis said that although statistics show that the majority of abuse happens outside the church, "the Church is the only one being attacked. Likewise, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests criticized Francis' remarks, saying they "reflect an archaic, defensive mindset that will not make kids safer.

In an April 11 speech delivered to the International Catholic Child Bureau , Francis asked for forgiveness on behalf of priests who abused children. The Pope's unscripted comments were hailed as his " strongest statement yet " on the sex abuse crisis. Francis said the he is aware of the "personal and moral damage Francis told America Magazine in August that he thinks it's "necessary to broaden the opportunities for a stronger presence of women in the church.

When Pope Francis washed the feet of two women during his Maundy Thursday trip to a youth prison in Rome, he set the tone for a papal shift in attitudes toward women. A letter from the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments explicitly said that only " chosen men " were to have their feet washed during this ceremony.

This wasn't the first time Francis washed women's feet: in , then-Bergoglio made headlines for washing the feet of a pregnant woman. On the topic of women's ordination to the priesthood, Francis has said the question is "not open to discussion," since it was settled under Pope John Paul II. Though Francis hasn't changed Church doctrine regarding LGBT issues, he has assumed a more loving, tolerant posture towards gay people than some of his predecessors.

He said in a July interview , "If a person is gay and seeks the Lord and has good will, well who am I to judge them? The Catechism of the Catholic Church While this statement has not yet resulted in any reforms at the doctrinal level, its power should not be overlooked. Prior to his papacy, in Argentina, Bergoglio called gay marriage " a destructive attack on God's plan. In an interview with Corriere della Sera , Francis affirmed Church teaching on marriage — "Marriage is between a man and a woman," he said — but also acknowledged the reality of the need that exists for secular states to "regulate economic aspects between persons, such as ensuring healthcare.

In a speech last year , Francis spoke out against the "cult of money," which he described as a financial "imbalance" resulting from "the absolute autonomy of markets. Such an economy kills. How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?

These and similar comments have earned Francis harsh criticism, most notably from Rush Limbaugh , who accused the Pope of sounding like a Marxist. Francis responded by saying that Marxism is "wrong," but he wasn't offended. He then reiterated his critique of "trickle-down economics. Since his appointment as Pope, Francis has "frequently shown concern for the environment," according to the National Catholic Register. His choice of "Francis" for his papal name might signify his interests in environmentalism, as St.

Francis — the patron saint of animals and ecology — is remembered for preaching to birds and caring for nature. In his inaugural mass , Pope Francis implored Catholics to be protectors of "the beauty of the created world.

On January 24, , Fr. Frederico Lombardi, Director of the Holy See Press Office, announced that Francis "has begun work on a draft text on the topic of ecology, which could become an encyclical. The forthcoming work, said Lombardi, would place particular emphasis on " human ecology " — the interrelationships of humans and their environments. On May 2, , the Pontifical Academy of Sciences — which is an international scientific academy housed in the Vatican — kicked off a five-day conference titled Sustainable Humanity, Sustainable Nature: Our Responsibility.

Over 40 academics from various disciplines are expected to attend the conference, the theme of which is to explore the relationship of humanity and nature. Those involved will discuss various ways in which nature both satisfies and fails to satisfy human needs for food, health, and energy. Francis has said his choice to downgrade his papal gear is the result of a "spiritual discernment that responds to a need that arises from looking at things. Francis has stated his desire to have " a church that is poor, and for the poor.

And Francis has taken larger-scale steps toward financial restraint. Although the Catholic Church has often been accused of financial corruption throughout its history, the VatiLeaks scandal that broke in January took the accusations to a new level. Much of that money is managed in the Instituo per le Opere di Religione IOR , commonly called the Vatican Bank, which is known as the most secret bank in the world.

Francis has made some big changes to the IOR. First, he fired the bank's longtime director. Then, he replaced four of the five board members overseeing the bank. But despite speculation that Francis was going to close it down, the Vatican announced in April that the IOR would remain open.

Francis later accepted the Bishop's formal resignation on March 26, As Francis has made clear, he considers himself a "son of the Church. One comment Francis made in an interview for America is important here. He said that although "many think changes and reforms can take place in a short period of time," he cautions that that "real, effective change" takes time.

His first visit inside Italy could be to Assisi, the birthplace of the much loved patron saint of Italy, Saint Francis, by whose name the new Pope chose to be called. Traditional papal protocol is complicated and serves to isolate the Pope except when he officiates at these public ceremonies. The Apostolic Palace, a fine Renaissance building next to Saint Peter's Basilica, has suites of official reception rooms on its second floor, below the papal apartments.

Here the Pope receives heads of state and official guests in his private library - groups of visitors range in size from four or five, to several hundred at a time.

Popes traditionally live in the spacious apartment reserved for their use on the top floor of the Apostolic Palace. This may not suit the new Pope who, as absolute monarch, is free to live where he will. When appointed archbishop of Buenos Aires, Pope Francis refused to live in the archbishop's palace, preferring more simple accommodation.

Up to now he has chosen to work from a hotel room inside Vatican City, rather than move directly into his palatial official quarters, which he finds excessively large. Before Pope Paul VI, who held office from to , popes rarely traveled and had fewer political duties.

As the church has become more of a diplomatic force, the role has become more demanding to meet the extra responsibilities. When the papacy is vacant, however, all these activities come to a stop. All of the curial offices remain in suspension, Briel said. So no major decisions were made, and no new bishops were appointed during the conclave. Email Stephanie Pappas or follow her sipappas. Original article on LiveScience.

Languages which he uses to address the different crowds which gather at many of his services each year. This inclusive attitude is why the Pope also receives many visitors, meeting with many important leaders and celebrities from all over the world.

He has met with both former President Obama, and current President of the United States Donald Trump, discussing issues such as climate change, the refugee crisis and terrorism. Celebrities include the likes of Angelina Jolie, who has been praised for her humanitarian work, and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio.

It is no wonder, Pope Benedict XVI resigned at the age of 85, feeling that due to his age he lacked the necessary strength in mind and body needed to fulfil his duties. Related article: Who lives in the Vatican Palace?