POPE FRANCIS CELEBRATES HIS FIRST SUNDAY MASS AS THE NEW ROMAN PONTIFF.............

On this first Sunday following his Election as the 266th Successor of St. Peter, +Joseph Mario Bergoglio, who is now Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church, presided and preached at Mass in St. Anne's Church in Vatican City this morning.  Pope Francis in preaching on the Sunday Scriptures, spoke of Jesus, saying, "He has come for us".  "Mercy", said Pope Francis is, "the strongest message of Jesus", as he preached the message of the Gospel Proclamation from John 11: 1-45; of the Woman Caught In Adultery.  The Pope spoke in large measure without using his prepared text, which is an emerging trait in his first days since being elected Pope last Wednesday.  Following the Mass, +Francis greeted those in attendance at the doors of the church, in the manner of most parish priests, and then walked into the crowds to momentarily greet and interact with some of the faithful.  Following the  the Sunday Mass Pope Francis returned to the Vatican, and according to Vatican Radio greeted many more well wishers before appearing in his balcony window for the Sunday Angelus Prayer and Blessing before an estimated 300,000 pilgrims below in St. Peter's Square.............Fr.  Troy