Pope Francis Celebrates His First Public Mass: Calls for Faithful Adherence to Gospel Values ✝️

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> <br />In his first public Mass, Pope Francis urged the Catholic Church on Thursday (March 14) to stick to its Gospel roots and shun modern temptations, warning that it would become just another charitable group if it forgot its true mission.<br/> <br />In a heartfelt, simple homily, the Argentinian pope laid out a clear moral path for the 1.2-billion-member Church, which is beset by scandals, intrigue and strife.<br/> <br />The first non-European pope in 1,300 years, Bergoglio's initial steps suggested he would bring a new style to the papacy, favoring humility and simplicity over pomp, grandeur and ambition among its top officials.<br/> <br />Whereas his predecessor, Pope Benedict, delivered his first homily in Latin, laying out his broad vision for the Church, Francis adopted the tone of a parish priest, focusing on faith.