Pope Francis walks a new type of symbolic talk: exhorting his fellow bishops to embrace “poverty, simplicity and austerity of life.” He practices what he preaches.

He exchanged the official papal attire: red cape, red shoes and golden cross, for a white cape, sensible black shoes and a metal cross.  He takes the bus instead of the papal limo.  He washes the feet not of bishops, but of women juvenile delinquents.

His first official visit was not to a Roman cathedral, but a parish outside the city, because “we understand reality not from the center, but from the outskirts.”

Adapted from:   http://business.inquirer.net/160403/pope-francis-ceo

See also: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/church-marks-first-anniversary-of-pope-francis-apostolate-of-shoe-leather-e/

Photo source:   http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/447870/20130320/new-pope-2013-francis-wears-old-black.htm