In another precedent-shattering moment for Pope Francis, the bishop of Rome, the Vicar of Christ, successor of St. Peter and the head of 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide has taken what may be the first papal selfie.
The pontiff posed for the photo with young Italian pilgrims Wednesday at St. Peter’s Basilica.
The image of Francis mugging for a cell phone photo with the Italian teens charged through social media when the papal newspaper L’Osservatore Romano released the photo Thursday.
The group of 500 young people was visiting the Vatican from the Catholic diocese of Piacenza-Bobbio in Italy and had a private audience with the pope.
According to Vatican Radio, the pope told the young crowd he wanted to meet with them “for selfish reasons … because you have in your heart a promise of hope.” Read more…
Catholic Springtime 