By Eric Kelsey
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Lindsay Lohan avoided jail on Monday but was ordered to spend three months in a locked rehabilitation facility and undertake 30 days of community labor in a plea bargain over charges arising from a June car crash.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Dabney said Lohan, whose once promising Hollywood career has been wrecked by legal woes and erratic behavior, must also undergo psychotherapy for 18 months and sentenced her to two years' probation.
The plea deal was struck on the first day of a scheduled trial when the 26-year-old 'Mean Girls' actress agreed to plead no contest to charges that she lied to police when she said she was not behind the wheel after her Porsche sports car smashed into a truck on June 8, 2012, in Santa Monica, California.
Lohan, who is still on probation for a 2011 conviction for stealing a necklace, had faced the prospect of being sent to jail if she was convicted on the latest charges, or if she was deemed to have violated the terms of her 2011 probation.
Under Monday's plea bargain, however, she was given a suspended 180 day jail term that will not be invoked unless she violates the terms of the agreement with prosecutors. It was announced after prosecutors and Lohan's attorney met with Dabney in chambers for more than two hours before the trial opened.
Dabney told Lohan, who spends much of her time in New York City, to stay out of cars and out of trouble.
'A suggestion: Don't drive. You're in New York, you don't need a car. ... This is it. If you violate your probation we're not going to be having these discussions,' Dabney said after reading out the plea agreement.
LOHAN ATTORNEY HAPPY WITH DEAL
Lohan left court without speaking to reporters, but her attorney, Mark Heller, told reporters he was happy with the deal.
'I'm very, very satisfied with the results today ... I think that the prosecutors treated her fairly. I'm very confident that you won't be seeing Lindsay Lohan in any criminal courts any time in the future,' Heller said.
'Today marks the first day of the rest of her life and her comeback is before her,' he said.
Lohan's father, Michael, heckled Heller during his news conference and accused him of lying to the actress and keeping her in the dark about the plea agreement.
The actress has been jailed or placed under house arrest for short periods numerous times since 2007, including three times in 2011. She has also spent at least five periods in rehab in the last six years.
She underwent court-ordered psychological counseling in 2012, and has claimed in numerous TV and magazine interviews that she is a changed woman and understands her past mistakes.
Lohan arrived 45 minutes late for her trial on Monday after taking an overnight flight to Los Angeles from New York and dashing through rush-hour traffic to the courthouse.
She had previously pleaded not guilty to reckless driving, obstructing police, and lying to police about who was driving the car in Santa Monica in June 2012.
Lohan made her name as a cute, freckled 11-year-old in Disney's 1998 movie 'The Parent Trap' and went on to find commercial and critical success in films like 'Freaky Friday' and 'Bobby.'
But she has not made a feature film since the independent thriller 'Machete' in 2010. Her last effort - a comeback performance as late actress Elizabeth Taylor in the TV movie 'Liz & Dick' in November - was largely panned by critics.
(Reporting By Eric Kelsey, Editing by Jill Serjeant, Mohammad Zargham and Paul Simao)
Monday, March 18, 2013
Lindsay Lohan ordered to locked rehab, avoids jail in plea deal
By Eric Kelsey
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Lindsay Lohan was ordered on Monday to spend 90 days in a locked rehabilitation facility and undertake 30 days of community labor as part of a plea bargain with prosecutors in which she will avoid time in jail on charges arising from a June car crash.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Dabney said Lohan, 26, must also undergo psychotherapy for 18 months and sentenced her to two years' probation.
The agreement came on the first day of a scheduled trial when Lohan agreed to plead no contest to charges that she lied to police when she said she was not behind the wheel after her Porsche sports car smashed into a truck on June 8, 2012, in Santa Monica, California.
Lohan, who is still on probation for a 2011 conviction for stealing a necklace, had faced the prospect of being sent to jail if she was convicted on the latest charges, or if she was deemed to have violated the terms of her probation.
Under Monday's plea bargain however, she was given a suspended 180 day jail term that will not be invoked unless she violates the terms of the agreement with prosecutors.
The plea bargain was announced after prosecutors and Lohan's attorney met with Dabney in chambers for more than two hours before the trial opened.
Dabney told Lohan to stay out of cars and out of trouble.
'A suggestion: Don't drive. You're in New York, you don't need a car. ... This is it. If you violate your probation we're not going to be having these discussions,' he said after reading out the plea agreement.
The 'Mean Girls' actress has been to jail for brief periods and entered rehabilitation for drinking and drug problems several times since 2007.
Lohan, who arrived 45 minutes late for the trial, had previously pleaded not guilty to reckless driving, obstructing police, and lying to police about who was driving the car in June 2012.
Lohan's once promising Hollywood career has been seriously damaged by her numerous legal troubles. A comeback performance as late actress Elizabeth Taylor in the TV movie 'Liz & Dick' in November was largely panned by critics.
(Reporting By Eric Kelsey, editing by Jill Serjeant and Mohammad Zargham)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Lindsay Lohan was ordered on Monday to spend 90 days in a locked rehabilitation facility and undertake 30 days of community labor as part of a plea bargain with prosecutors in which she will avoid time in jail on charges arising from a June car crash.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Dabney said Lohan, 26, must also undergo psychotherapy for 18 months and sentenced her to two years' probation.
The agreement came on the first day of a scheduled trial when Lohan agreed to plead no contest to charges that she lied to police when she said she was not behind the wheel after her Porsche sports car smashed into a truck on June 8, 2012, in Santa Monica, California.
Lohan, who is still on probation for a 2011 conviction for stealing a necklace, had faced the prospect of being sent to jail if she was convicted on the latest charges, or if she was deemed to have violated the terms of her probation.
Under Monday's plea bargain however, she was given a suspended 180 day jail term that will not be invoked unless she violates the terms of the agreement with prosecutors.
The plea bargain was announced after prosecutors and Lohan's attorney met with Dabney in chambers for more than two hours before the trial opened.
Dabney told Lohan to stay out of cars and out of trouble.
'A suggestion: Don't drive. You're in New York, you don't need a car. ... This is it. If you violate your probation we're not going to be having these discussions,' he said after reading out the plea agreement.
The 'Mean Girls' actress has been to jail for brief periods and entered rehabilitation for drinking and drug problems several times since 2007.
Lohan, who arrived 45 minutes late for the trial, had previously pleaded not guilty to reckless driving, obstructing police, and lying to police about who was driving the car in June 2012.
Lohan's once promising Hollywood career has been seriously damaged by her numerous legal troubles. A comeback performance as late actress Elizabeth Taylor in the TV movie 'Liz & Dick' in November was largely panned by critics.
(Reporting By Eric Kelsey, editing by Jill Serjeant and Mohammad Zargham)
Lindsay Lohan late for reckless driving trial in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Troubled star Lindsay Lohan arrived late for Monday's start of her trial on charges of reckless driving and lying to police over a June car crash, after she flew to Los Angeles from New York overnight.
Lohan, wearing a white and pink pants suit, turned up in court more than 45 minutes late after a morning dash from Los Angeles International Airport to the courthouse following a private jet flight from New York.
A bystander threw glitter at her as she walked into court through a phalanx of photographers and camera crews.
Lohan, 26, has pleaded not guilty to reckless driving, obstructing police, and lying to police when she said she was not behind the wheel when her Porsche sports car smashed into a truck on June 8, 2012, in Santa Monica, California.
The actress, who is still on probation for a 2011 conviction for stealing a necklace, faces the prospect of being sent to jail if she is convicted on the latest charges, or if she is deemed to have violated the terms of her probation.
The three misdemeanor charges each carry potential jail terms ranging from three months to a year. But even if Lohan is not convicted, the judge has the power to sentence her to jail for more than 200 days if he determines the actress violated her probation in the 2011 jewelry case.
Monday's trial went ahead after the failure of weeks of behind the scenes negotiations over a possible plea bargain for the 'Mean Girls' actress, who has been to jail for brief periods and entered rehabilitation for drinking and drug problems multiple times since 2007.
Lohan's new attorney, Mark Heller, told reporters earlier this month that Lohan had started a new round of psychotherapy and wanted to give inspirational speeches to school kids in a bid to turn her life around.
However, it's not clear if either of those projects have gotten underway. Lohan has spent much of the three months since being charged over the Santa Monica car crash in New York, where she has been photographed at nightclubs, concerts, and fashion and charity events.
Lohan's once promising Hollywood career has been seriously damaged by her numerous legal troubles. A comeback performance as late screen legend Elizabeth Taylor in the TV movie 'Liz & Dick' in November was largely panned by critics.
(Reporting By Eric Kelsey, editing by Jill Serjeant and Eric Beech)
Lohan, wearing a white and pink pants suit, turned up in court more than 45 minutes late after a morning dash from Los Angeles International Airport to the courthouse following a private jet flight from New York.
A bystander threw glitter at her as she walked into court through a phalanx of photographers and camera crews.
Lohan, 26, has pleaded not guilty to reckless driving, obstructing police, and lying to police when she said she was not behind the wheel when her Porsche sports car smashed into a truck on June 8, 2012, in Santa Monica, California.
The actress, who is still on probation for a 2011 conviction for stealing a necklace, faces the prospect of being sent to jail if she is convicted on the latest charges, or if she is deemed to have violated the terms of her probation.
The three misdemeanor charges each carry potential jail terms ranging from three months to a year. But even if Lohan is not convicted, the judge has the power to sentence her to jail for more than 200 days if he determines the actress violated her probation in the 2011 jewelry case.
Monday's trial went ahead after the failure of weeks of behind the scenes negotiations over a possible plea bargain for the 'Mean Girls' actress, who has been to jail for brief periods and entered rehabilitation for drinking and drug problems multiple times since 2007.
Lohan's new attorney, Mark Heller, told reporters earlier this month that Lohan had started a new round of psychotherapy and wanted to give inspirational speeches to school kids in a bid to turn her life around.
However, it's not clear if either of those projects have gotten underway. Lohan has spent much of the three months since being charged over the Santa Monica car crash in New York, where she has been photographed at nightclubs, concerts, and fashion and charity events.
Lohan's once promising Hollywood career has been seriously damaged by her numerous legal troubles. A comeback performance as late screen legend Elizabeth Taylor in the TV movie 'Liz & Dick' in November was largely panned by critics.
(Reporting By Eric Kelsey, editing by Jill Serjeant and Eric Beech)
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Justin Timberlake puts the sexy into married life in new album
By Piya Sinha-Roy
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After making the transition from child star and boy band heartthrob to movie star, Justin Timberlake is returning to music with his first album since 2006, cementing his grown-up status with a record inspired by his new marriage.
Timberlake, 32, officially releases 'The 20/20 Experience' on Tuesday. But the 10-track record of smooth love songs with a throwback R&B sound is already No. 1 on the iTunes charts after it was streamed online last week.
The album is Timberlake's first since 'FutureSex/LoveSounds' which spawned hit pop singles 'Sexyback' and 'What Goes Around...Comes Around.'
Although lead single 'Suit & Tie,' featuring rapper Jay-Z, failed to meet sales expectations on its first week of release in January, the album is expected to sell well following weeks of promotion including a Grammy Awards show performance and a stint by Timberlake on TV sketch show 'Saturday Night Live.'
Industry sources cited by Billboard said 'The 20/20 Experience' could sell 500,000 copies in its first week, and easily give Timberlake the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 album charts.
'The 20/20 Experience' sees Timberlake embracing his status as a married man after his wedding to actress Jessica Biel in October 2012.
The singer draws on lazy summer romances for the majority of his songs, with slow-tempo swing rhythms on tracks such as 'Pusher Girl Love,' where Timberlake describes his addiction to a girl.
Jason Lipshutz at Billboard magazine gave the album an 88 out of 100 rating, saying that while the singer did not replicate the edgy pop sounds of earlier hits on his 'FutureSex' album, he 'has offered us something more complicated, although no less accessible.'
Rolling Stone magazine's Jody Rosen praised the singer for being 'such a charismatic and effortlessly appealing singer, dancer and showman,' and called the album 'Timberlake's neo-soul record.'
FROM HEARTTHROB TO ENTREPRENEUR
Timberlake has barely put a foot wrong in his transition from child star in the 'Mickey Mouse Club' to popular boy band N'Sync, through to solo entertainer, actor and entrepreneur.
He has appeared in movies 'The Social Network' and 'Bad Teacher;' launched his own record label, Tennman Records; added clothing designer to his credits with label William Rast; and invested in social networking site MySpace.
His all-rounder status was showcased last week on 'Saturday Night Live,' where he sang, danced and acted - and boosted ratings for the NBC show to a 14-month high.
In July he will embark on a 'Legends of the Summer' tour of North American stadiums along with Jay-Z, and the pair will headline a London music festival in the same month.
While 'Don't Hold The Wall' - a steamy dance floor track with explicit connotations - harkens back to Timberlake's 'Sexyback' days, Biel is often at the forefront of the singer's mind in the new album. 'That Girl' is a sweet throwback R&B love song, while new single 'Mirrors' is an ode to his new wife.
Los Angeles Times reviewer Mikael Wood gave the album three out of four stars, saying 'Timberlake holds (the album) together too, with lyrics that stay resolutely on the topic of romance.'
Not all critics are swooning. Alexis Petridis of Britain's Guardian newspaper gave 'The 20/20 Experience' three out of five stars, but slammed Timberlake's lyrics, which he called 'awful.'
'It's not that the lyrics are exclusively about sex; it's that Timberlake writes about it in a way that suggests he's desperate to add some kind of musical equivalent of the Bad Sex award to his six Grammys and four Emmys,' Petridis said.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Mohammad Zargham)
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After making the transition from child star and boy band heartthrob to movie star, Justin Timberlake is returning to music with his first album since 2006, cementing his grown-up status with a record inspired by his new marriage.
Timberlake, 32, officially releases 'The 20/20 Experience' on Tuesday. But the 10-track record of smooth love songs with a throwback R&B sound is already No. 1 on the iTunes charts after it was streamed online last week.
The album is Timberlake's first since 'FutureSex/LoveSounds' which spawned hit pop singles 'Sexyback' and 'What Goes Around...Comes Around.'
Although lead single 'Suit & Tie,' featuring rapper Jay-Z, failed to meet sales expectations on its first week of release in January, the album is expected to sell well following weeks of promotion including a Grammy Awards show performance and a stint by Timberlake on TV sketch show 'Saturday Night Live.'
Industry sources cited by Billboard said 'The 20/20 Experience' could sell 500,000 copies in its first week, and easily give Timberlake the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 album charts.
'The 20/20 Experience' sees Timberlake embracing his status as a married man after his wedding to actress Jessica Biel in October 2012.
The singer draws on lazy summer romances for the majority of his songs, with slow-tempo swing rhythms on tracks such as 'Pusher Girl Love,' where Timberlake describes his addiction to a girl.
Jason Lipshutz at Billboard magazine gave the album an 88 out of 100 rating, saying that while the singer did not replicate the edgy pop sounds of earlier hits on his 'FutureSex' album, he 'has offered us something more complicated, although no less accessible.'
Rolling Stone magazine's Jody Rosen praised the singer for being 'such a charismatic and effortlessly appealing singer, dancer and showman,' and called the album 'Timberlake's neo-soul record.'
FROM HEARTTHROB TO ENTREPRENEUR
Timberlake has barely put a foot wrong in his transition from child star in the 'Mickey Mouse Club' to popular boy band N'Sync, through to solo entertainer, actor and entrepreneur.
He has appeared in movies 'The Social Network' and 'Bad Teacher;' launched his own record label, Tennman Records; added clothing designer to his credits with label William Rast; and invested in social networking site MySpace.
His all-rounder status was showcased last week on 'Saturday Night Live,' where he sang, danced and acted - and boosted ratings for the NBC show to a 14-month high.
In July he will embark on a 'Legends of the Summer' tour of North American stadiums along with Jay-Z, and the pair will headline a London music festival in the same month.
While 'Don't Hold The Wall' - a steamy dance floor track with explicit connotations - harkens back to Timberlake's 'Sexyback' days, Biel is often at the forefront of the singer's mind in the new album. 'That Girl' is a sweet throwback R&B love song, while new single 'Mirrors' is an ode to his new wife.
Los Angeles Times reviewer Mikael Wood gave the album three out of four stars, saying 'Timberlake holds (the album) together too, with lyrics that stay resolutely on the topic of romance.'
Not all critics are swooning. Alexis Petridis of Britain's Guardian newspaper gave 'The 20/20 Experience' three out of five stars, but slammed Timberlake's lyrics, which he called 'awful.'
'It's not that the lyrics are exclusively about sex; it's that Timberlake writes about it in a way that suggests he's desperate to add some kind of musical equivalent of the Bad Sex award to his six Grammys and four Emmys,' Petridis said.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Mohammad Zargham)
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Rapper Lil Wayne says he is fine after health scare
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. rapper Lil Wayne said on Friday he was fine and thanked fans for their concern after a reported seizure that led celebrity website TMZ.com to claim he was in a medically induced coma and near death.
'I'm good everybody. Thx for the prayers and love,' Wayne said in a Twitter message on his official account.
The 30-year-old rapper's spokeswoman Sarah Cunningham said in an email that 'Lil Wayne is recovering,' but did not specify what he was suffering from.
She was responding to a TMZ.com report citing unnamed sources which said Wayne was in critical condition, and near death, at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles.
Rapper Mack Maine said in a Twitter posting earlier that Wayne was 'alive and well. We watching the Syracuse (basketball) game...thanks for the prayers and concern.'
Maine said fans should not 'believe the nonsense about comas and tubes to breathe.'
TMZ said the rapper was admitted to Cedars-Sinai for seizures and released on Wednesday. But the website said he was readmitted a few hours later after his bodyguard found him unconscious on the floor of his room. It said his mother was flying to Los Angeles on Friday to be at his bedside.
Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., has suffered several unexplained seizures in the past few months, including two in January while on a plane flight.
Wayne, a native of New Orleans, began rapping at the age of nine, when he became the youngest artist to be signed by Cash Money record label.
The 'Got Money' rapper has released nine studio albums over a two decade career and has become one of the biggest names in rap music.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and David Brunnstrom)
'I'm good everybody. Thx for the prayers and love,' Wayne said in a Twitter message on his official account.
The 30-year-old rapper's spokeswoman Sarah Cunningham said in an email that 'Lil Wayne is recovering,' but did not specify what he was suffering from.
She was responding to a TMZ.com report citing unnamed sources which said Wayne was in critical condition, and near death, at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles.
Rapper Mack Maine said in a Twitter posting earlier that Wayne was 'alive and well. We watching the Syracuse (basketball) game...thanks for the prayers and concern.'
Maine said fans should not 'believe the nonsense about comas and tubes to breathe.'
TMZ said the rapper was admitted to Cedars-Sinai for seizures and released on Wednesday. But the website said he was readmitted a few hours later after his bodyguard found him unconscious on the floor of his room. It said his mother was flying to Los Angeles on Friday to be at his bedside.
Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., has suffered several unexplained seizures in the past few months, including two in January while on a plane flight.
Wayne, a native of New Orleans, began rapping at the age of nine, when he became the youngest artist to be signed by Cash Money record label.
The 'Got Money' rapper has released nine studio albums over a two decade career and has become one of the biggest names in rap music.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing by Jill Serjeant and David Brunnstrom)
Friday, March 15, 2013
Oprah named most influential celebrity for second year
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oprah Winfrey was crowned America's most influential celebrity for a second straight year on Friday, despite having dropped off daily television in 2011.
Forbes magazine ranked Winfrey, 59, ahead of Hollywood titans Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood and towering over other TV figures such as journalist Barbara Walters and financial guru Suze Orman.
Forbes said that 48 percent of people surveyed rated Winfrey as influential, down just one point from last year. The list was drawn from polls of Americans conducted by E-Poll Market Research, which ranks more than 7,500 celebrities based on 46 different personality attributes.
Winfrey ended her daily 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' in May 2011 after 25 years to launch the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), which features lifestyle programming aimed at women.
After struggling in the ratings since its launch, OWN has seen audiences rise recently, thanks to Winfrey's January world exclusive with cyclist Lance Armstrong admitting to years of doping, and her wide-ranging interview with R&B singer Beyonce.
Forbes noted that Winfrey's magic had rubbed off as well, with one of her protégées, TV physician Dr. Mehmet Oz, ranking sixth on the list.
Film directing, however, seems to be the profession most associated with influence, as four directors, including Ron Howard and Martin Scorsese, crowded into the Top 10.
E-Poll Chief Executive Gerry Philpott said that while influence could mean different things to different people, most often it reflects someone's impact on the culture.
Reflecting on Spielberg's runner-up ranking, Philpott said 'To this day, ask anyone what they think about before going in the ocean,' referring to the filmmaker's 1975 blockbuster 'Jaws.'
Dropping out of the Top 10 entirely was last year's No. 2 finisher, actor Michael J. Fox, who has been out of the public eye of late.
Eastwood, who made headlines by addressing an empty chair at the 2012 Republican National Convention, rounded out the Top 10.
The Top 10 Most Influential Celebrities of 2013, according to Forbes are;
1. Oprah Winfrey
2. Steven Spielberg
3. Martin Scorsese
4. Ron Howard
5. George Lucas
6. Dr. Mehmet Oz
7. Barbara Walters
8. U2 frontman Bono
9. Suze Orman
10. Clint Eastwood
The full list can be seen at http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2013/03/14/oprah-winfrey-tops-our-list-of-the-most-influential-celebrities/
(Reporting by Chris Michaud, editing by Jill Serjeant)
Forbes magazine ranked Winfrey, 59, ahead of Hollywood titans Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood and towering over other TV figures such as journalist Barbara Walters and financial guru Suze Orman.
Forbes said that 48 percent of people surveyed rated Winfrey as influential, down just one point from last year. The list was drawn from polls of Americans conducted by E-Poll Market Research, which ranks more than 7,500 celebrities based on 46 different personality attributes.
Winfrey ended her daily 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' in May 2011 after 25 years to launch the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), which features lifestyle programming aimed at women.
After struggling in the ratings since its launch, OWN has seen audiences rise recently, thanks to Winfrey's January world exclusive with cyclist Lance Armstrong admitting to years of doping, and her wide-ranging interview with R&B singer Beyonce.
Forbes noted that Winfrey's magic had rubbed off as well, with one of her protégées, TV physician Dr. Mehmet Oz, ranking sixth on the list.
Film directing, however, seems to be the profession most associated with influence, as four directors, including Ron Howard and Martin Scorsese, crowded into the Top 10.
E-Poll Chief Executive Gerry Philpott said that while influence could mean different things to different people, most often it reflects someone's impact on the culture.
Reflecting on Spielberg's runner-up ranking, Philpott said 'To this day, ask anyone what they think about before going in the ocean,' referring to the filmmaker's 1975 blockbuster 'Jaws.'
Dropping out of the Top 10 entirely was last year's No. 2 finisher, actor Michael J. Fox, who has been out of the public eye of late.
Eastwood, who made headlines by addressing an empty chair at the 2012 Republican National Convention, rounded out the Top 10.
The Top 10 Most Influential Celebrities of 2013, according to Forbes are;
1. Oprah Winfrey
2. Steven Spielberg
3. Martin Scorsese
4. Ron Howard
5. George Lucas
6. Dr. Mehmet Oz
7. Barbara Walters
8. U2 frontman Bono
9. Suze Orman
10. Clint Eastwood
The full list can be seen at http://www.forbes.com/sites/dorothypomerantz/2013/03/14/oprah-winfrey-tops-our-list-of-the-most-influential-celebrities/
(Reporting by Chris Michaud, editing by Jill Serjeant)
Focus on mission, stay true to the cross, pope tells cardinals
By Philip Pullella and Catherine Hornby
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Friday urged leaders of a Roman Catholic Church riven by scandal and crisis never to give in to discouragement, bitterness or pessimism but to keep focused on their mission.
Since his election on Wednesday as the first non-European pope in nearly 1,300 years, Francis has signaled a sharp change of style from his predecessor, Benedict, and has laid out a clear moral path for the 1.2-billion-member Church, which is beset by scandals, intrigue and strife.
'Let us never give in to the pessimism, to that bitterness, that the devil places before us every day. Let us not give into pessimism and discouragement,' he told the cardinals who chose him.
The Vatican on Friday strongly denied accusations by some critics in Argentina that Francis stayed silent during systematic human rights abuses by the former military dictatorship there.
Spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told reporters the accusations 'must be clearly and firmly denied'.
Critics of Jorge Bergoglio, the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, allege he failed to protect priests who challenged the dictatorship earlier in his career, during the 1976-1983 'dirty war', and that he has said too little about the complicity of the Church during military rule.
Setting out a clear and forceful moral tone in the early days of his papacy, Francis on Thursday told the cardinals they must stick to the faith's Gospel roots and shun modern temptations, otherwise the Church risked becoming just another charitable group without its divine mission.
Francis has given clear signs already that he will bring a new broom to the crisis-hit papacy, favoring humility and simplicity over pomp and grandeur.
OFF THE CUFF
On Friday he spoke to the cardinals in Italian from a prepared text but often added off-the-cuff comments in what has already become the hallmark of a style in sharp contrast to the stiffer, more formal Benedict.
Francis called the princes of the church 'brother cardinals' instead of 'lord cardinals' as Benedict did. Lombardi said Francis was still taking his meals with other prelates in the Vatican residence where the cardinals stayed during the conclave. 'He just sits down at any table where there is a free spot, with a great sense of ease.'
Another notable difference from the formal Benedict is the new pope's outgoing nature and sense of humor.
On Friday, he hugged cardinals, slapped them on the back, broke into animated laughter and blessed religious objects one cardinal pulled out of a plastic shopping bag.
In another sign of humility, Francis stopped cardinals who tried to kneel before him.
But his message was serious. The role of Church elders, including himself, was to set an example and pass on faith and values to younger people without being distracted by the temptations of worldliness.
'We are in old age. Old age is the seat of wisdom,' he said, speaking slowly. 'Like good wine that becomes better with age, let us pass on to young people the wisdom of life,' he said.
STUMBLE
During the meeting on Friday he briefly stumbled as he descended the steps in front of his throne to greet Angelo Sodano, dean of the cardinals, but he quickly recovered his balance.
He made a point of paying tribute to Benedict, who shocked the Church last month by becoming the first pontiff in some 600 years to resign instead of ruling for life, saying he had 'lit a flame in the depths of our hearts' with his courage and example.
Morale among the faithful has been hit by a widespread child sex abuse scandal and in-fighting in the Church government or Curia, which many prelates believe needs radical reform.
Francis is seen as having a common touch and the communication skills that the aloof Benedict lacked.
Whereas Benedict delivered his first homily in Latin, laying out his broad vision for the Church, Francis adopted the tone of parish priest, focusing on faith.
'When we walk without the cross, when we build without the cross and when we proclaim Christ without the cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly,' he told the massed ranks of cardinals clad in gold-colored vestments.
'We may be bishops, priests, cardinals, popes, all of this, but we are not disciples of the Lord (if we don't follow Jesus),' he added, speaking slowly in Italian.
The new pope signaled immediately his intentions for the papacy when he adopted the name of St. Francis of Assisi, who gave up a life of privilege in the 12th century to follow a vocation of poverty.
He urged Argentines not to make costly trips to Rome for his inauguration next week but to give money to the poor instead.
No Vatican watchers had expected the conservative Argentinian to get the nod, and some of the background to the surprise vote has already trickled out, confirming that cardinals wanted a pastoral figure to revitalize the global Church but also someone who would get the dysfunctional Vatican bureaucracy in order.
French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard told reporters: 'We were looking for a pope who was spiritual, a shepherd. I think with Cardinal Bergoglio, we have this kind of person. He is also a man of great intellectual character who I believe is also a man of governance.'
After more than a millennium of European leadership, the cardinals who chose Francis looked to Latin America, where 42 percent of the world's Catholics live. The continent is more focused on poverty and the rise of evangelical churches than questions of materialism, rising secularism and priestly sexual abuse, which dominate in the West.
Francis' inaugural Mass will be held next Tuesday, with many world leaders expected to attend.
(Editing by Barry Moody and Giles Elgood)
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Friday urged leaders of a Roman Catholic Church riven by scandal and crisis never to give in to discouragement, bitterness or pessimism but to keep focused on their mission.
Since his election on Wednesday as the first non-European pope in nearly 1,300 years, Francis has signaled a sharp change of style from his predecessor, Benedict, and has laid out a clear moral path for the 1.2-billion-member Church, which is beset by scandals, intrigue and strife.
'Let us never give in to the pessimism, to that bitterness, that the devil places before us every day. Let us not give into pessimism and discouragement,' he told the cardinals who chose him.
The Vatican on Friday strongly denied accusations by some critics in Argentina that Francis stayed silent during systematic human rights abuses by the former military dictatorship there.
Spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told reporters the accusations 'must be clearly and firmly denied'.
Critics of Jorge Bergoglio, the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, allege he failed to protect priests who challenged the dictatorship earlier in his career, during the 1976-1983 'dirty war', and that he has said too little about the complicity of the Church during military rule.
Setting out a clear and forceful moral tone in the early days of his papacy, Francis on Thursday told the cardinals they must stick to the faith's Gospel roots and shun modern temptations, otherwise the Church risked becoming just another charitable group without its divine mission.
Francis has given clear signs already that he will bring a new broom to the crisis-hit papacy, favoring humility and simplicity over pomp and grandeur.
OFF THE CUFF
On Friday he spoke to the cardinals in Italian from a prepared text but often added off-the-cuff comments in what has already become the hallmark of a style in sharp contrast to the stiffer, more formal Benedict.
Francis called the princes of the church 'brother cardinals' instead of 'lord cardinals' as Benedict did. Lombardi said Francis was still taking his meals with other prelates in the Vatican residence where the cardinals stayed during the conclave. 'He just sits down at any table where there is a free spot, with a great sense of ease.'
Another notable difference from the formal Benedict is the new pope's outgoing nature and sense of humor.
On Friday, he hugged cardinals, slapped them on the back, broke into animated laughter and blessed religious objects one cardinal pulled out of a plastic shopping bag.
In another sign of humility, Francis stopped cardinals who tried to kneel before him.
But his message was serious. The role of Church elders, including himself, was to set an example and pass on faith and values to younger people without being distracted by the temptations of worldliness.
'We are in old age. Old age is the seat of wisdom,' he said, speaking slowly. 'Like good wine that becomes better with age, let us pass on to young people the wisdom of life,' he said.
STUMBLE
During the meeting on Friday he briefly stumbled as he descended the steps in front of his throne to greet Angelo Sodano, dean of the cardinals, but he quickly recovered his balance.
He made a point of paying tribute to Benedict, who shocked the Church last month by becoming the first pontiff in some 600 years to resign instead of ruling for life, saying he had 'lit a flame in the depths of our hearts' with his courage and example.
Morale among the faithful has been hit by a widespread child sex abuse scandal and in-fighting in the Church government or Curia, which many prelates believe needs radical reform.
Francis is seen as having a common touch and the communication skills that the aloof Benedict lacked.
Whereas Benedict delivered his first homily in Latin, laying out his broad vision for the Church, Francis adopted the tone of parish priest, focusing on faith.
'When we walk without the cross, when we build without the cross and when we proclaim Christ without the cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly,' he told the massed ranks of cardinals clad in gold-colored vestments.
'We may be bishops, priests, cardinals, popes, all of this, but we are not disciples of the Lord (if we don't follow Jesus),' he added, speaking slowly in Italian.
The new pope signaled immediately his intentions for the papacy when he adopted the name of St. Francis of Assisi, who gave up a life of privilege in the 12th century to follow a vocation of poverty.
He urged Argentines not to make costly trips to Rome for his inauguration next week but to give money to the poor instead.
No Vatican watchers had expected the conservative Argentinian to get the nod, and some of the background to the surprise vote has already trickled out, confirming that cardinals wanted a pastoral figure to revitalize the global Church but also someone who would get the dysfunctional Vatican bureaucracy in order.
French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard told reporters: 'We were looking for a pope who was spiritual, a shepherd. I think with Cardinal Bergoglio, we have this kind of person. He is also a man of great intellectual character who I believe is also a man of governance.'
After more than a millennium of European leadership, the cardinals who chose Francis looked to Latin America, where 42 percent of the world's Catholics live. The continent is more focused on poverty and the rise of evangelical churches than questions of materialism, rising secularism and priestly sexual abuse, which dominate in the West.
Francis' inaugural Mass will be held next Tuesday, with many world leaders expected to attend.
(Editing by Barry Moody and Giles Elgood)
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