Pope's common touch poses security conundrum

VATICAN CITY: Finding himself near a Vatican exit and hearing people chanting his name outside, during one of his first days in office, Pope Francis responded with an impromptu walkabout that looks set to become a frequent occurrence.

The new pope spent several minutes shaking hands and cuddling children, apparently taking as much time as he wanted, as security officials and Swiss Guards looked on nervously. "Security detail in fibrillation, faithful delirious" is how the Italian daily Il Fatto Quotidiano described the scene.

The papal bodyguards had better get used to it.

From the very start of his papacy, the first Latin American pontiff has exhibited a common touch and served notice that he will not tolerate life in a security bubble cut off from ordinary people.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said security measures cannot be imposed on the pope.

"If the pope says, 'I want to go greet these people', the pope goes ahead, and the security people go along," Lombardi said, adding that the bodyguards would have to "show flexibility".

AFP