Thursday 14 March 2013

Pope Francis pays his hotel bill

La Croix's report of Pope Francis' pilgrimage to the Church of St Mary Major this morning ends with an amusing little account of his calling in to pay his bill.
Après avoir salué les enfants d’une école voisine de Sainte-Marie-Majeure, le pape François est reparti en voiture, demandant juste à faire une halte à la résidence internationale des prêtres près de la place Navone, où il logeait avant le conclave.

« Il a récupéré ses bagages et réglé sa chambre pour montrer l’exemple », a indiqué le P. Lombardi, directeur de la Salle de presse du Saint-Siège. Il est ensuite retourné à la Maison Sainte-Marthe où il continue d’habiter provisoirement.
In the report from Vatican Information Service:
The Holy Father left as he had arrived, with a minimal escort and entourage. He was accompanied by Archbishop Georg Ganswein and Msgr. Leonardo Sapienza, S.C.I., respectively prefect and regent of the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household. Along the way, however, he surprised everyone by first sending an affectionate greeting to children from a nearby school and then by asking his driver to stop by the Domus Internationalis “Paulus VI” near Piazza Navona where he had stayed before entering the Conclave. The Pope greeted those working there, gathered his belongings, and paid his bill.

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