VATICAN CITY, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Pope Leo indicated on Monday that he plans to follow the reform agenda of his predecessor Francis, praising the late pontiff's attempts to make the global Catholic Church more inclusive in an annual Christmas address to Vatican cardinals.
Leo, the first U.S. pope, told the Church's senior-most officials that Francis, who died in April, had been a "prophetic voice" who strived to create "a joyful Church, welcoming to all and attentive to the poorest".
