Post date: Dec 18, 2013 3:25:6 PM
Pope Francis takes time to greet pilgrims, drink Argentinean mate and wear a Basque beret as he arrives for his last general audience of 2013.
VATICAN (DECEMBER 18, 2013) (CTV) - Pope Francis was in good spirits as he arrived for his last weekly general audience of the year in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday (December 18).
Riding in his half-covered pope mobile on the sunny but cold winter morning, the pope took his time to greet the large number of pilgrims gathered in the square.The pope shared a laugh with the pilgrims as a pigeon sat down to rest on the glass roof of the popemobile.
Francis got out of the popemobile several times to greet children and adults face to face.
He was offered a cup of Argentinean mate and chatted with the pilgrims until he had finished the beverage.
Smiling, he placed a Basque beret on top of his head that a group of pilgrims threw his way.
In his trademark style he broke away from his pre-written notes during the audience, speaking against elitism.
"It is an ugly thing to see a Christian who does not want to lower himself, who does not want to serve; a Christian who struts around, it's really ugly. That's not a Christian, that's a pagan. A Christian helps others, and lowers himself," Francis said.
Francis, who turned 77 this week, is riding a wave of popularity.
On Tuesday (December 17), the day of his birthday, the oldest gay rights magazine in the United States named Pope Francis its "Person of the Year".
Last week, Time magazine gave Francis the same honour, crediting him with shifting the message of the Catholic Church towards mercy and away from condemnation, while capturing the imagination of millions.