msnbc   |  March 16, 2013

Pope Francis holds first news conference

More than five thousand journalists joined Pope Francis for his first news conference since being elected Pope. NBC’s Vatican analyst George Weigel reports.

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>>> more than 5,000 journalists have an audience with the pope this morning. the pope met with the media for a short time important the first time. we go to vatican city during this historical weekend. we heard this morning the pope was meeting the press. did the media get a sense of the man after this first meeting?

>> reporter: i should certainly hope so, alex. he's a very transparentally friend whose faith shines throw. shows a real good sense of humor today. i think people are going to get to love this man very, very quickly. there's something refreshingly candid and open about him. he talked about his fears inside the sistine chapel when things were getting a bit dangerous for him as he said. but i think he's also a man who will get a real grip on the machinery here in rome and i suspect some shakeups will be coming in the not too distant future.

>> interesting. you know a lot of people have wondered why he chose the name francis . and he explained that.

>> reporter: he did. he was known in buenos aires as the jesuit who lives like a francescan. the founder of the order was inspired by francis assisi who is the most popular saint in history. also a great patron of italy. it's a way to bind the bishop of rome, pope francis , to the italian people that he serves.

>> i know investiture is scheduled for tuesday. how about his meeting with pope benedict . it was rescheduled. do you know why?

>> reporter: he tried to call the former pope from the room of tears outside of the sistine chapel right after the election and the call couldn't get through because of all the jamming equipment that was in place to prevent spying on the conclave.

>> that's an interesting nugget. makes sense. let's face it it is rather interesting to be able to talk to the former pope. that never happens. anyway, we're glad to talk with you. we'll do a