The newly elected pope met this morning with the cardinals who appointed him less than 48 hours ago, reportedly refusing to deliver the homily prepared for him in favor of speaking to them off the cuff. NBC's Natalie Morales reports.
By Ian Johnston, Staff Writer, NBC News
Pope Francis urged an audience of cardinals Friday never to give in to the ?bitterness? that ?the devil places before us every day? and also paid tribute to his predecessor Benedict.
During a meeting in the Sistine Chapel, Francis stumbled on the steps to his throne but managed not to fall and quickly smiled.
Among the challenges faced by the church are allegations of corruption with the Vatican and the ongoing scandal over sex abuse of children by priests.
Francis may have had those problems in mind when he urged some 150 assembled cardinals to remain hopeful and to keep trying to do the right thing.
"Let us never give in to the pessimism, to that bitterness, that the devil places before us every day. Let us not give into pessimism and discouragement," he said, according to Reuters.
The 76-year-old pontiff also said that the church?s elder statesman should help the younger generation of clergy.
After distancing himself from the traditional pomp and privilege of his new title, Pope Francis ? known for his sincerity and frugality ? has shown every indication that he plans to remain an educator and a pastor in addition to all of his other responsibilities. NBC's Anne Thompson reports.
"We are in old age. Old age is the seat of wisdom," he said, according to Reuters. "Like good wine that becomes better with age, let us pass on to young people the wisdom of life."
Francis also paid tribute to Emeritus Pope Benedict, who decided to stand down last month.
Benedict had "lit a flame in the depths of our hearts that will continue to burn because it is fueled by his prayers that will support the church on its missionary path,? Francis said, according to The Associated Press.
"In these years of his pontificate, he enriched and invigorated the church with his magisterium, his goodness, guide and faith ? his humility and his gentleness,? he added.
Francis has brought to the papacy a new tone of informality -- some of his remarks Friday were said to be unscripted and he spoke from the pulpit, not the throne -- and an ordinary touch.
He was pictured paying his own hotel bill, and in Argentina people told of how he used to regularly ride the bus as a cardinal. He has been dubbed the "slum pope" because of his work in poor areas of his home country.
Cardinal Sean O'Malley, archbishop of Boston, said that Francis "coming out of Latin America is very much impassioned by a desire to make the church present to people in suffering."
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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