11 August 2013 Last updated at 11:39 ET
Pope Francis reaches out to Muslims at end of Ramadan

Pope Francis has urged Christians and Muslims to work together to promote mutual respect, particularly by educating new generations of believers.

He greeted Muslims around the world during his Sunday blessing of pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square in Rome.

He said that "our brothers'' the Muslims had just concluded their holy month of Ramadan, dedicated to fasting, prayer and alms-giving.

The Pope spoke from his studio window overlooking the square.

The BBC's David Willey in Rome says Pope Francis, who has made caring for the poor the landmark theme of his pontificate, addressed tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered in scorching summer heat.

Unlike his predecessors who spent their summers in the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo outside the Italian capital, where the weather is slightly cooler, the Pope has chosen to continue working at the Vatican during the summer holidays.

Our correspondent says he is preparing major reforms of the Vatican bureaucracy as a result of scandals involving Vatican finances and clerical sexual abuse of minors.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23656779#

I think it's really terrific that Pope Francis is, if not actually breaking, at least stretching the papacy role ~ he did give the haters and bigots muscle spasms with his "who am I to judge?" answer in response to a question about gay priests ~ from what I've seen/read, Pope Francis follows Jesus' teachings more closely than his predecessors, almost all of whom seemed to enjoy the power and upscale trappings of the role more than anything else ~ Pope Francis is already attacking the financial corruption within the Vatican and the abusive priests ~ hopefully we'll see him attack the big social issues within the church too ~ contraception, female priests, gay marriage ~

Sooz

How long before the first assassination attempt?

Just curious: Is the former Pope still residing at the Vatican?

i don't think that was the plan. i think he is residing at the "summer home" or something.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/ ... RG20130606

Pope Francis broke with another papal tradition on Thursday and revealed he will not spend his summer in the lavish palace in the hilltop town of Castel Gandolfo, host to popes for centuries and a favored retreat of his predecessor Benedict.

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said that Francis would stay in the Vatican City over the summer despite the usually stifling heat in Rome.

Chaos, I think Cannalee is asking about Pope Benedict ["the former Pope"] ~

Sooz

Supposedly Ratzinger is living in a summer residence on the vatican property, which, agt 110 acres, is about 1/2 the size of a modern Wisconsin dairy farm. As you can see, it's a humble little cottage, as befits a man who has taken a vow of poverty.