As he concluded a Saturday morning meeting with some of the thousands of reporters who have been covering the papal transition, Francis said he would bless the group, but out of respect for their differences would not make the sign of the cross over the gathering. “Given that many of you do not belong to the Catholic Church, (and) others are nonbelievers, I give this blessing from my heart, in silence, to each of you, respecting the conscience of each one, but knowing that each of you is a child of God,” he said, to applause.

At the same event, Francis went off script to explicitly mention both the church’s “virtues and her sins.” In highlighting again his emphasis on solidarity with the poor, he indicated that it should extend beyond mere charity. “How much I would like a poor church, for the poor!” the pope exclaimed.