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Pope visits birthplace of his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi

Nuns look at Pope Francis leaving the Archbishop's residence in Assisi.
Nuns look at Pope Francis leaving the Archbishop's residence in Assisi.Alessandra Tarantino / AP
Pope Francis prays at the tomb of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy, on Friday.
Pope Francis prays at the tomb of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy, on Friday.Gian Matteo Crocchioni / AP

By Carlo Dellaverson, Digital Producer, NBC News

Pope Francis traveled to the bucolic Umbrian hillside town of Assisi on Friday to pay his first visit to the birthplace of his namesake, St. Francis, the Italian patron saint who shed his life of riches to live and pray amongst the poor in the early 13th century.

Continuing in his mission to follow in St. Francis' footsteps, the pontiff began his trip by blessing disabled children, then, addressing the poor from from the room where St. Francis is said to have undressed to show his modesty and reverence to Christ, Francis called on the church to “undress” and “divest ourselves of worldliness,” which he said leads to vanity, arrogance and pride and is the "cancer of society and the enemy of Christ."  Read full story

Pope Francis leaves St. Francis Basilica at the end of a Mass in Assisi on Friday.
Pope Francis leaves St. Francis Basilica at the end of a Mass in Assisi on Friday.Pietro Crocchioni / Pool / Reuters
Nuns look at Pope Francis leaving the Archbishop's residence in Assisi.
Nuns look at Pope Francis leaving the Archbishop's residence in Assisi.Alessandra Tarantino / AP
Pope Francis blesses a child during his visit at the Serafico Institute Friday in Assisi.
Pope Francis blesses a child during his visit at the Serafico Institute Friday in Assisi.Gregorio Borgia / AFP - Getty Images
Pope Francis waves to monks at the San Damian monastery in Assisi.
Pope Francis waves to monks at the San Damian monastery in Assisi.Andreas Solaro / Pool via Reuters
A nun uses binoculars to watch Pope Francis as he leads a Mass in front of St. Francis Basilica.
A nun uses binoculars to watch Pope Francis as he leads a Mass in front of St. Francis Basilica.Gregorio Borgia / AP