The Argentinean-born pontiff is currently on a week-long spiritual retreat with cardinals¹ and bishops² in the Alban Hills near Rome.

 

Italian opinion polls give Pope Francis the highest popularity rating of any recent pontiff.

 

However, the BBC's David Willey in Rome says that Francis's papacy so far has shown a change of style rather than of substance.

 

Pope Francis is the first Latin American - and the first Jesuit - to lead the Roman Catholic Church.

 

Since taking office, pilgrims have been arriving in Rome in unprecedented³ numbers.

 

He is also riding high on social media, with 11 million following him in nine languages on Twitter.

 

Our correspondent says Francis's approval rating has remained high despite a recent UN report accusing the Catholic Church of systematically⁴ covering up for tens of thousands of child-abusing priests reported to the Vatican.

 

The Pope himself has denounced any cult⁵ of personality.

 

He recently told Corriere della Sera: "Portraying⁶ the pope as a kind of superman, a type of star, it seems offensive."

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