Aboard an open jeep, Pope Francis went around St. Peter's Square and greeted the crowd before his inaugural Mass on March 19. (Photo: Jeffrey Bruno/CNA)
MANILA, March 19, 2013— Pope Francis’ simplicity should serve as an example to other Catholic bishops and priests, a retired archbishop said.
Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz of Lingayen-Dagupan said the new pontiff’s humility is something that all members of the clergy should emulate in action and not just words.
“I myself was affected by his simplicity of life,” said Cruz, former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
The pontiff is known as a humble man who denied himself the luxuries that other cardinals enjoyed.
“I recently renounced some things, which I think I don’t need like clothes, food…because I was hit by that. I think there are things I don’t need which I should give up,” he said.
The former Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio marked the start of his papacy on Tuesday with inaugural Mass at the St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
Among the more than 130 national delegations that graced the occasion were Philippine Vice President Jejomar, and a number of heads of State. (CBCPNews)
