Pope Francis: Another Humble Man Named Francis Called to Rebuild the Church

Pope Francis: Another Humble Man
Named Francis Called to Rebuild the Church
As with all Popes, the choice of the name is
significant
Pope Francis did something which astounded me. He asked the
faithful - before he gave them the Urbi et Orbi Apostolic blessing - to pray for
him. He bowed before those assembled in the square during a moment of silence.
That was profoundly moving and, I suggest, telling.

 Pope Francis: Another Humble Man Named Francis Called to Rebuild the Church Mar13_13

Pope Francis: Another Humble Man Named Francis Called to Rebuild the Church Mar13_13

Pope
Francis
<blockquote>
VATICAN CITY (Catholic Online): At
7:07 p.m. in Italy, the white smoke billowed from the Chimney to a world waiting
the good news. At 7:18 p.m. the bells made it clear, lest there were any
lingering doubts as to whether the smoke was really white. The bells were nearly
drowned out by the joyous shouts of the massive crowd who knew God had heard the
prayers of His people.
Exuberance filled the air in that historic square.
Its timbre reassured millions who heard it over media points of entry around the
entire world. The message was for all men and women, "Habemus Papem! We Have a
Pope!"
Numerous reports were quickly filed upon the
arrival of the smoke. They offered more speculation. For example, the notion
that the culmination of five ballots of votes from the Cardinal electors was due
to the crisis the Church faces. Others expressed concern as to whether a new
Pope could help to heal a troubled church. Whether sincere or not, they really
missed the moment.
None of that concern was present in the faces of
young and the old gathered in St. Peter's Square. Rather, joy and hope moved
them to tears and smiles. They knew the mystery which only living faith can
reveal. The promise of the Lord to Peter is reliable.
That promise also applies to his successor, "You
are Peter and on this Rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hell will not
prevail against it." (Matt. 16:18) In fact, prior to coming forward, the new
Pope had just participated in a service with the cardinals who elected him where
that very promise from Matthews Gospel was read.
The Proto Deacon, French Cardinal Jean-Louis
Tauran Cardinal Deacon stepped out on the central balcony of Saint Peter's
Basilica and proclaimed "Habemus Papem". He told a waiting world of the election
of the 265th Successor of Saint Peter, an Argentinian Cardinal named Jorge Mario
Bergoglio, S.J. The surprise I felt was evident in the faces of the
commentators! Their well prepared scripts had to be discarded. Another surprise
of the Spirit!
Shortly afterward Pope Francis I, clothed in papal
white - without the winter red mozetta which often accompanies the papal
vestments- emerged to greet the faithful. He was born on December 17, 1936, in
Buenos Aries, Argentina, the son of an Italian immigrant father and an
Argentinean mother. He has four brothers and sisters. He is the first Jesuit
pope in history and the first to take the name of Francis.
He is known to be a humble man. In fact, among the
many things heard in the immediate remarks from those who did know him was that
he "rides the bus." That humility was obvious in his demeanor. I quickly
discovered that he had taken as his motto for his service as a Bishop,
"miserando atque eligendo" which means, lowly, and yet chosen.
With self deprecating humor he told the crowd that
it looked like his brothers the Cardinals "went to the end of the world" to find
him. Then, he asked the faithful to join him in prayer for His Holiness Benedict
XVI. He led the crowd, and the world which was watching, in the simple
recitation of the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be.
Then, Pope Francis I did something which astounded
me. He asked the faithful - before he gave them the Urbi et Orbi Apostolic
blessing - to pray for him. He bowed before those assembled in the square during
a moment of silence. That was profoundly moving and, I suggest, telling.
As with all Popes, the choice of the name is
significant. Though we await a full explanation as to why he chose Francis I, my
heart and mind leapt to an obvious conclusion. He took the name of the little
poor man of Assissi, Francis. The one to whom the Lord had appeared and said "Go
and Rebuild my Church which you can see is falling down in ruins."
That humble deacon named Francis Bernadone did
what the Lord asked him in the thirteenth century. As a result, both the Church
and the world were changed. The Church of Francis of Assisi's time was not
unlike the Church which Pope Francis I will serve. The world of Francis of
Assisi's time was not unlike the world into which Pope Francis I is called to
bring the message of the Gospel in its fullness.
The Lord uses holy and humble men at critical
times in Church history to bring authentic renewal. May the Pope who bears the
name of Francis exhibit the humility, deep prayer and level of spiritual gifts
which his namesake offered at another critical time in the history of the Church
and the world.
In the days ahead we will hear much more about
Pope Francis I. The media is already filled with people parsing his theological
training and looking for "clues" as to how he will exercise his office. His
association with the movement Communion and Liberation, his theological
orthodoxy and his love for the poor have all been mentioned. They are
encouraging to me.
There will be plenty of time for all of that. We
will certainly join in. However, as for this moment, I ask our readers around
the globe to pray for our Pope, Francis . Then, take his first direction which
he gave after the Blessing when he grabbed the microphone spontaneously and
spoke again to the crowd, "Have a good evening and rest well." The Church of
Jesus Christ is in good hands.
</blockquote>