Pope makes his mark

POPE FRANCIS has spent his first day as leader of 1.2 billion Catholics praying, paying his hotel bill and catching the bus.

Much has been made of the 76-year-old's humility and modesty, previously winning praise for eschewing the trappings of office for a frugal life in Buenos Aires, where he was archbishop.

Yesterday, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, pictured above, set his marker down as he means to go on. Before celebrating mass at the Sistine Chapel he enjoyed an unannounced early morning visit to a Roman basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary and prayed before a Byzantine icon of the Madonna and infant Jesus.

He then crossed the road to greet schoolchildren and commuters travelling to work.

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NEWS that Chancellor George Osborne could scrap a planned fuel duty rise in next week's Budget was welcomed yesterday by motoring groups.

Reports suggest that Mr Osborne will announce he has abandoned the increase – expected to be about 3p a litre – that was due in the autumn.

The Chancellor has already scrapped a January rise and postponed another increase that was due next month.

"If the Chancellor really is scrapping the autumn increase then that will be very good news for motorists, for businesses and for the economy generally," said AA president Edmund King.

KATE MOSS put in a model performance on air when she read an extract from steamy best-seller Fifty Shades Of Grey to raise money for Comic Relief.

The catwalk star had to suppress giggles as she read from the EL James novel during Nick Grimshaw's Radio 1 Breakfast Show.

She was joined in the studio by other big names including Lily Cooper and David Walliams as they raised more than £250,000.

Grimshaw and fellow DJs Sara Cox, Greg James and Dev all posed in their swimwear to raise money for the charity appeal and members of Little Mix and Union J were challenged to eat a spoonful of cinnamon powder live on air.