The first controversy of Pope Francis' papacy

Mar 13, 2013
by Heidi Schlumpf
This article appears in the Pope Francis feature series. View the full series.

Is it "Francis" for St. Francis of Assisi? Or St. Francis Xavier, the Jesuit? Does it reference care for the poor, or evangelization? Or maybe both?

Discuss.

Editor's Note: I don't want to squelch discussion, but in Rome we asked this question,  and Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said the new pope chose the name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.

We say: Charlottesville reveals the weeping wound of racism. What do we, the American Catholic faith community, do next? Read the editorial.

--Dennis Coday.

In This Series

Study finds massive 'Francis effect' in Italy

Nov 11, 2013

Pope Francis: Don't bury the lead

Sep 24, 2013

From Benedict to Francis, the perils of papal interviews

Sep 23, 2013

Pope Francis and a church that changes

Jul 8, 2013

An island few have heard about - until today

Jul 8, 2013
View all ›

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