Pope Francis: ‘Church must be refuge for poor, sick, homeless’

Pope Francis, starting four packed days of events culminating in Easter, said the Church must always be a refuge for the poor, the homeless, and the sick.

Francis, who since his election last year has urged priests to shun material comforts or the urge to climb clerical career ladders, led a solemn Holy Thursday service on the day that Christians commemorate the founding of the priesthood by Jesus.

In the grandeur of St Peter’s Basilica, he celebrated a Mass of the Chrism during which he and priests renewed the vows they took on the day of their ordination and he blessed oils to be used in sacraments during the year.