Rome: Pope Francis Greets Media

Mar 16

Pope Francis meets with journalists inside the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on March 16, 2013. In his first meeting with the media, Francis told the nearly 5,600 in attendance how he came to chose his name as pope. When it became clear that he was going to receive the two-thirds majority necessary to become the new pontiff, a fellow cardinal from Brazil had told him "don't forget the poor." Francis said, "Right away, with regard to the poor, I thought of St. Francis of Assisi, then I thought of war." "Francis loved peace and that is how the name came to me." He added: "This is what I want, a poor church for the poor." Francis also told the journalists, that spanned nearly 81 countries, "The role of mass media has become essential in modern times, so thank you...you have worked hard," he said to cheers and applause. To read more about Pope Francis, the historic conclave and thoughts about the Church and it's future, read Betsy Hiel's reporting in the The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Italy

Justin Merriman

Justin Merriman is a freelance photojournalist, commercial photographer, licensed drone pilot, and filmmaker based in Pittsburgh. His career began in Southwestern Pennsylvania, where he worked as a newspaper photographer dedicated to community storytelling and politics. Since then, his work has been recognized with regional, national, and international awards and has appeared in publications around the world.

After covering the crash of United Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001, Merriman committed to documenting the U.S. military’s War on Terror, reporting from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and across the United States. His international assignments have also included life in Fidel Castro’s Cuba, India’s campaign to eradicate polio, the aftermath of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Cuba in 2012, the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis in Rome, the second anniversary of Egypt’s revolution, Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea, and the uncertain future of Guantanamo Bay in 2015. That same year, he traveled the full U.S.–Mexico border to document immigration issues.

In addition to photography, Merriman works as a director and filmmaker, creating recent films on refugees in Turkey, Jordan, India, and South Africa.

Closer to home, he frequently covers stories across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, focusing on the intersections of economic, environmental, and political life. Most recently, he reported on the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and its impact on the community.

Born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Merriman graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg with a B.A. in English Writing. In 2009, the university awarded him its prestigious Alumnus of Distinction award. He is a founding member of Argo Collective, a group of photographers sharing diverse visions of America. He lives outside Pittsburgh with his wife, Stephanie Strasburg, a photojournalist with PublicSource.

http://www.justinmerriman.com

Rome: Pope Francis Greets Media

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