Pope flies home after rapturous welcome in Cuba, US
Pope Francis was headed home Monday after enjoying a rapturous reception in Cuba and the United States for his message of reconciliation, humility and care for those in need. But he rejected the notion of being a “star”, telling reporters aboard the papal plane that his job was to be “the servant of the servants of God… It’s a bit different from a star!” Throughout the nine-day trip, huge crowds lined the streets everywhere the 78-year-old pontiff went in Cuba, Washington, New York and Philadelphia. Francis became the first pope to address the US Congress, calling on elected leaders to take responsibility for crafting a fairer economic system, confronting global warming, restricting the arms trade and abolishing the death penalty. In New York, he led a multi-faith prayer for world peace at Ground Zero, testament to the September 11, 2001, attacks killed nearly 3,000 people, a place that he said “speaks so powerfully of the mystery of evil.” In Philadelphia, the Vatican s...