Pope Francis: audience with communications professionals

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met with professional communicators on Saturday, receiving them in audience in the Paul VI Hall, the lobby of which had been converted into a media centre serving the more than 5 thousand journalists accredited with the Press Office of the Holy See during the Papal transition. One of the principal highlights of the audience was Pope Francis’ account of how he came to choose his regnal name. “In the election, I had [sitting] next to me, the Archbishop emeritus of Sao Paulo and the Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Clergy, Cardinal Claudio Hummes – a great friend – a great friend,” said Pope Francis, arousing enthusiastic applause. Listen:

“When the thing became ‘dangerous’,” he continued, “[Card. Hummes] comforted me, and when the votes reached the 2/3 level, there was the expected applause, because the Pope had been elected – and [Card. Hummes] embraced me, and kissed me, and said to me: ‘do not forget about the poor.’” Pope Francis went on to explain that Francis, the poor man of Assisi, was also a man of peace. “And that,” he said, “is how the name came to me.” Pope Francis began his remarks by thanking the journalists for their service in recounting the events of the sede vacante, the Conclave and especially the Papal election. “You’ve been busy [these past few days],” said Pope Francis. “Your profession requires study, sensitivity and experience,” he said, adding, “[the journalistic profession] requires particular attention to truth, goodness and beauty – and this brings us particularly close together, because the Church exists in order to communicate precisely this: Truth, Goodness and Beauty in person.”