African Integrity Magazine – World leaders & faithfuls welcome Pope Francis

World leaders & faithfuls welcome Pope Francis – The first humble champion of the poor

Apr 01, 2013 Samuel Cover Story 0

The world has hailed Pope Francis the first as a humble champion of the poor and wish him the strength to lead the church out of crisis, just as Latin America Roman Catholics rejoiced that the new Pope Francis Roman Catholics rejoiced that the new Pope Francis is one of their own. Pope Francis, on March, began to reign in unorthodox fashion as he shunned public events in order to pray to the Virgin Mary-and he showed his great humility by refusing to take a special car and paying off his own hotel bill.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was seen recently wearing glasses as he was announced o the tens of thousands of Catholics who flocked to Vatican City. A total of 115 cardinals took part in a conclave to choose the new pope.

Just as his election was being celebrated with widespread joy in his native Argentina, the Pope, on recently kept a low profile and opted out of the usual pageantry which might be expected to accompany the start of his reign. Commentators who spoke to Reuters said Francis had a reputation for being as conservative as his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, but Latin American Catholics celebrated the fact that the cardinals had, in his words, gone to the end of the world to find him.

“A Latino is more open to others, while a European is more closed. A change like this will be very important for us Latin Americans. “75 years old Ana Solis outside Santiagos Metropolitan Cathedral in Chile, told Reuters.

Latin America is home to 42 per cent of the world 1.2 billion Catholics and the election of Argentinian Jorge Mario Bergoglio ended nearly 1,200 years of popes born in Europe.

Born Bergoglio, now Pope Francis 1, becomes the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the first Jesuit, following his emergence after five days of meeting by the conclave of cardinals. “It seems my brother cardinals went almost to the end of the world (to choose a pope).” He told the crowd in St. Peter’s Square in his first address, stating earlier in his tweet after his announcement as Pope that the was immensely happy to be the new pope. According to agency reports, pundits did not see him as a favourite for the job of succeeding Benedict XVI and his advanced age at 76. That he is just two years younger than Benedict at the time of the election in 2005 may surprise those expecting a younger man as the 266^th pope.

However, he appeals to both church conservatives and formers, being seen as orthodox on sexual matters, for instance, but liberals on social justice. He was quoted by the National Catholic Reporter as saying at a gathering of Latin American bishops in 2007; we live in the most unequal part of the world, which has grown the most, yet reduced misery the least.

The unjust distribution of goods persist, creating a situation of social sin that cries out to heaven and limits the possibilities of a fuller life for so many of our brothers. Bergoglio adopted the name of Francis. He becomes the first pope from Continental America, as previous popes came from Europe. Prior to his election, Bergoglio served as an Argentine cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He has served as the Archbishop of Beunos Aires since 1998 and was elevated to the cardinalate in 2001.

PROFILE: Borne in Buenos Aires, he is one of the five children of Italian railway worker. After studying at the seminary in Villa Deveto, he entered the Society of Jesus (SJ) on March 11, 1958. Bergoglio obtained a licentiate in Philosophy from the Colegio Maximo San Jose in Miguel, and then taught literature and psychology at the Colegio de la Immaculada in Santa Fe, and the Colegio del Salvador in Buenos Aires.

He was ordained a priest on December 13, 1969, by Archbishop Ramon Jose Castellano. He attended the Philosophical and Theological Faculty of Sam Miguel, where he attained the position of novice master and became professor of theology. Impressed with his leadership skills, the SJ promoted him and he served as provincial for Argentina from 1973 to 1979. He was transferred in 1980 to become the Rector of the seminary. He served in that capacity until 1986. He completed his doctoral and returned to his homeland to serve as confessor and spiritual director in Cordoba. Bergoglio succeeded Cardinal Quarrancino on February 28, 1988, and was concurrently named ordinary for Eastern Catholics in Argentina. Pope John Paul II summoned the newly named archbishop to the consistory on February 21, 2001 in Vatican City and elevated him with the papal honour of a cardinal. He was named to the Cardinal-Priest of saint Robert cardinal, he was appointed to several administrative positions in the Roman Curia, serving in the Congregation of Clergy, Congregation of Divine Worship and Sacraments, Congregation of Institution of Consecrated Life and the Congregation of Societies of Apostolic Life. He became a member of the commission on Latin American and the Family Council. Bergoglio became known for personal humility, doctrinal conservatism and a commitment to social justice. His simple lifestyle contributed to his reputation for humility, as he lives in a small apartment, rather than in the palatial bishop residence. He gave up his chauffeured limousine in favour of public transportation, and he reportedly cooks his own meals. Upon the death of Pope John Paul II, Bergoglio was considered papabile and participated in the 2005 papal concave as a cardinal elector, the conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI. A widespread theory says that he was in a tight flight with Ratzinger until he advised, crying not to be voted. He participated in the funeral of Pope John Paul II and acted as a regent alongside the College of Cardinals, governing the Holy see and the Roman Catholic Church during the interregnum sede vacante period. During the 2005 Synod of Biships, he was elected a member of the Postsynodal Council. An unauthorized diary of uncertain authenticity released in September 2005 confirmed that Bergoglio was the runner-up and main challenger of Cardinal Ratzinger at the 2005 conclave. A diary of anonymous cardinal claimed that Bergoglio received 40 votes in the third ballot, but fell back to 26 at the fourth and decisive ballot.

On November 8, 2005, he was elected President of the Argentina Episcopal Conference for a three-year term (2005-2006) by a large majority of the Argentina bishop which, according to reports, confirms his local leadership and the international prestige earned by his performance in the conclave. He was re-elected on November 11, 2008.

POPE SEEKS PROTECTION FOR THE POOR AT INAUGURATION

Aope Francis, who was elected by a secret conclave of cardinals gathered in the Vaticans Sistine Chapel last month, was given a rapturous reception when he was driven around St. Peter Square in an open-topped pope mobile at the start of the ceremony. Under bright blue skies, crowds cheered and waved, as Catholic faithfuls from around the world waved the flags of dozen of nations. The Popes was accompanied by dozen of cardinals and archbishops wearing golden vestments that shone in the sunlight, as choirs sang Gregorian chants during the two hour inauguration ceremony. As tens of thousand of on-lookers listened, many praised the dramatic change of style he has brought to the papacy, and waited for any hints of a major change for the Catholic Church in his first homily as rope. The new pope set out his vision for his papacy and the church as compassion, and the downtrodden.

“This was a general message, so he did not get into specifies about how the might change the church,” says Robert Mickens, Vatican Correspondent for the Tabletg, a Catholic weekly.

This is a big plan, mercy and compassion will be the keys to his pontificate. I think its too early to say whether there will be a change of direction,” says Mr. Mickens. But his homily struck a more inclusive tome compared to Benedict XVI. He can use this as a launch pad to deal with other suspected a lot of it was autobiographical-these are things he has learnt during his life about caring for the weak. He is a Jesuit, a bit of alone ranger. In a strongly worded homily delivered from a stage in front of St. Peter he urged the world to shun the omens of destruction and death.

He called the Christians to protect the whole of creation, to protect each person, especially the poorest, to protect ourselves; “this is a service that the Bishop of Rome is called to carry out, yet one to which all of us are called.

The duty of caring for the weak and the poor fell not just on Christians but on all humanity”, he said.

THOUGHTS ON WHY POPE BENEDICT XVI RESIGNED

He was seen globally an intellectualist and a devotion to leadership, coupled withy brilliant teachings has marked him out as a pope to remember and to cherish. In the content of the clumely he is more intellectual than pastoral, his ascendancy to the exalted office of pope.

The resignation therefore, jolted many adherents who though he did not have sufficient experience as a postoral leader.

Unlike his predecessor, who held several pastoral positions, Pope Benedict XVI spent the greater part of his pre-papal life teaching. Theology and espousing doctrines to promote the faith. This is why there is a new thinking among the leaders of the church that the new pope should have sufficient pastoral experience to be able to drive the new challenge facing it. He made remarkable things by chosen the world of the sick and the feast of our lady of Lourdes to make the announcement of the office of pope.