Pope Francis speaks on the occasion of an audience with members of the Catholic Action association, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis is trying to energize Catholics, telling them to be active, help others, spread the faith, and that's all good for cholesterol levels, too.
Francis himself looked full of pep Sunday, a day after the 80-year-pontiff returned from a hectic trip to Egypt.
In St. Peter's Square, he did a whirl in his popemobile to greet some 70,000 members and supporters of Italian Catholic Action, a social-action group celebrating 150 years since its formation.
Of Italian origin, the Argentine-born pope told the crowd his father and grandmother had belonged to the group. Then he said: "Don't get comfortable in your armchair; that makes you fat and is bad for the cholesterol."
Instead, he urged them to take care of others, be merciful and keep "being a people of "disciples-missionaries."
Pope Francis speaks on the occasion of an audience with members of the Catholic Action association, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis waves as he is driven through the crowd in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis speaks on the occasion of an audience with members of the Catholic Action association, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis caresses a child as he is driven through the crowd in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis is driven through the crowd in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis is driven through the crowd in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis waves as he is driven through the crowd in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis is driven through the crowd in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis is driven through the crowd in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis is driven through the crowd in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis is driven through the crowd in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis waves as he is driven through the crowd in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis is driven through the crowd in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The Associated Press