Pope Francis Warns About Pressing Issues In Catholic Church

Pope Francis has warned in his first Mass that the troubled Catholic Church risk becoming little more than a charity with no spiritual foundations if it fails to undergo renewal.  

Addressing the cardinals who elected him as Latin America's first Pope, the 76-year-old Argentine said  the Church could "end up as a compassionate NGO", using an Italian word which also mean "pitiful". 

He urged the people to have the courage to walk in the presence of the Lord. 

The new head of the world's one point two billion Catholics, who was formerly known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio begun his reign by meeting people in Rome and laying a bouquet of flowers in homage to the Virgin Mary in a basilica. 

The Pope also prayed at the altar of St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order to which he belongs. 
GBC