Pope Francis began his papacy this week amid high expectations and intense scrutiny from Catholics and non-Catholics alike. An emphasis on simplicity and humility marked the installation Mass Tuesday (March 19), where Francis continued to highlight his concern for the poor and for the weakest in society. In his homily, the new pope urged protection for creation and for all human beings. He said people, including the pope, should remember that authentic power is the service of others. Representatives of many faiths attended the Mass, among them, for the first time in nearly a millennium, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Eastern Orthodoxy.

On Wednesday (March 20), Francis held a special meeting with a broad range of interfaith leaders. He highlighted what he called “the importance of promoting friendship and respect among men and women of different religious traditions.” He specifically recognized several groups, including Eastern Orthodox leaders and Jews, with whom he said Catholics have a “very special spiritual bond.”

Meanwhile, the public continues to examine Francis’s every gesture and word, past and present, looking for signals about the direction his papacy may take. Several polls have found strong approval among US Catholics for the selection of Francis as the new pope. But majorities of those surveyed also said they hope Francis will make changes on controversial policies such as allowing Catholics to use birth control, allowing priests to marry, and allowing women to become priests.