Papal switcheroo as Francis changes plans at last minute to visit different Rome community

By ANDREW MEDICHINI and NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis pulled something of a switcheroo as he slipped out of the Vatican to meet with members of a local Roman parish. The 30 or so families who met with Francis in a building courtyard in the far west neighborhood of Palmarola were certainly surprised. That’s because Francis had been expected across town at another parish community at the same time.Francis apparently pulled the last-minute switcheroo after word had spread too much that he was planning to visit an apartment complex in Casal Bertone, a working class neighborhood in far-east Rome. Francis has resumed these spontaneous parish visits as part of a new initiative of papal prayer sessions ahead of next year’s Jubilee.