At inaugural Mass, Pope Francis calls for defending environment, poor

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis issued a powerful call for the protection of the environment and of society's most vulnerable during his formal installation Mass at the Vatican, while qualifying his papal power as a "service" to the church and to humanity.

    The pope on Tuesday (March 19) celebrated a solemn Mass in St. Peter's Square in front of an estimated 200,000 people, as well as political and religious leaders from all over the world.