Headlines
Pope visits Rome to purchase new glasses
Rome, Sep 4 Pope Francis made a surprise visit to the Italian capital of Rome where he visited an optician to try on new glasses, a media report said on Friday.
Arriving in an unmarked car on Thursday afternoon, the Argentine pontiff visited the shop in the historic and lively city centre close to the famous Piazza del Popolo, drawing crowds outside the optician's window, The Local news portal reported.
He tried on a few frames over a period of about 40 minutes, and according to Vatican news agency I-Media, the pope asked the shopkeeper to charge him the normal price.
"I don't want new frames, you only need to repair the glasses, I don't want to spend," the pope was quoted as saying by the optician Alessandro Spiezia.
Francis, 78, who is long-sighted, had previously been a customer of the shop, as had his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI, according to the optician's website.
In an interview in March, Francis said that since becoming pope in 2013 he missed being able to go anonymously into the streets, to eat pizza for example.
He is renowned for throwing off his security and plunging into the crowds to greet pilgrims, and often uses jokes or stories to spread the values of the Church.
1 hour ago
'Ukraine counts on US support no matter who wins election', says Zelensky after meeting Trump
8 hours ago
Consulate General of India denounces vandalism at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento.
8 hours ago
Blinken meets Yunus, engages in "productive discussions" to strengthen economic and political ties.
9 hours ago
Hezbollah Commander dies in Israeli airstrike; US urges 21-day ceasefire.
9 hours ago
Indian diaspora set to influence the upcoming US presidential elections.
9 hours ago
Donald Trump announces plans to meet Zelenskyy at Trump Tower on Friday.
9 hours ago
Canadian MP Chandra Arya condemns calls for a renewed inquiry into the Air India Kanishka bombing.
11 hours ago
UPI pips credit cards as preferred payment method in India
11 hours ago
‘Made in India’ iPhone 16 flies off the shelves in aspirational India
11 hours ago
PM Modi's policies reshaping women's role in India's workforce: Mansukh Mandaviya
11 hours ago
Centre blocks some websites exposing Aadhaar, PAN details
11 hours ago
Union Health Ministry releases new guidelines for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
11 hours ago
Mumbai schoolgirl is world’s youngest to get shoulder-level arm transplant