Pope Francis I
As if his career in Buenos Aires were not indication enough, the opening days of the papacy of Pope Francis I have already revealed his character and possibly the future of his reign in striking ways. He has broken with tradition in several ways and has shown that this administration of the Roman Catholic Church may be unlike any other in history or at least for a long, long time.
We know of his habit for taking the bus to work when he was cardinal in Argentina. We know that he had washed the feet of AIDS patients in Buenos Aires. We know that he preferred quiet diplomacy over blustering demonstration.
Now in his first days as Pope Francis I he has taken a name previously unused by the popes. He has addressed his colleagues from the pulpit instead of the papal throne. He has dined informally with them and has joked with them about God forgiving them for what they have done in electing him. He has stumbled ascending the throne and has smiled about it. He has asked the faithful by mouth and by Tweet to pray for him.
Today, Sunday March 17, 2013, Pope Francis has broken with tradition yet again. In Day Five of his papacy in his first Sunday address from the Vatican window, he spoke to the crowd without a written speech but from the heart. He spoke only in Italian.
There were 150,000 people in St. Peter’s Square and he greeted them with the simple buon giorno (good morning). He spoke of the forgiveness and mercy of God. His homily had said that we are much harder on ourselves and on our fellow human beings than God ever is toward us.
After Mass at St. Anne’s Church, he stepped toward the huge crowd and greeted them individually. One man in the crowd actually was patting the pope on the back. It has been a long time since any pope was so at ease with the crowds.
We know of his habit for taking the bus to work when he was cardinal in Argentina. We know that he had washed the feet of AIDS patients in Buenos Aires. We know that he preferred quiet diplomacy over blustering demonstration.
Now in his first days as Pope Francis I he has taken a name previously unused by the popes. He has addressed his colleagues from the pulpit instead of the papal throne. He has dined informally with them and has joked with them about God forgiving them for what they have done in electing him. He has stumbled ascending the throne and has smiled about it. He has asked the faithful by mouth and by Tweet to pray for him.
Today, Sunday March 17, 2013, Pope Francis has broken with tradition yet again. In Day Five of his papacy in his first Sunday address from the Vatican window, he spoke to the crowd without a written speech but from the heart. He spoke only in Italian.
There were 150,000 people in St. Peter’s Square and he greeted them with the simple buon giorno (good morning). He spoke of the forgiveness and mercy of God. His homily had said that we are much harder on ourselves and on our fellow human beings than God ever is toward us.
After Mass at St. Anne’s Church, he stepped toward the huge crowd and greeted them individually. One man in the crowd actually was patting the pope on the back. It has been a long time since any pope was so at ease with the crowds.
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I
The new pope’s installation on Tuesday will be attended by ecumenical luminaries from the Eastern Church, as well. In a surprising move, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I will be attending the ceremonies as will Metropolitan Ioannis of Pergamon. The Patriarchs of Constantinople have not attended since the church split between east and west in 1054—almost one thousand years.
It may be simply irony that both Pope and Patriarch have taken previously unused names but it does invite wonder. What is interesting is that when Pope Francis—then Archbishop Bergoglio of Buenos Aires—was in Argentina, he served as Ordinary for the Eastern Rite Church who had no Ordinary of their own there. Pope Francis has a long history of reaching out to the Eastern Church.
Even the Russian Orthodox Church, long resentful of Rome, has opened the door to a future meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kiril of Moscow.
Most intriguing of all, perhaps, is the invitation sent to Rome’s Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni. This may not be a surprise considering the close relationship that he maintained with the Jewish community in Argentina. Even the conservatism of Pope Francis seems no trouble to Rabbi David Rosen who calls it “the sweetest of ironies” that many times the Church’s conservatives have the best disposition toward Judaism.
We are witnessing something exciting and every one of us—Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Sikhs, Agnostics and Atheists—should take it all in and hope for the best for Pope Francis I.
If you are a praying person, do as his Tweet requests.
This site and the material contained herein is protected by copyright and trademark laws under U.S. and International law. No part may be copied without written permission of the author.
© copyright 2011-2013. Travis Rogers, Jr. All rights reserved.
It may be simply irony that both Pope and Patriarch have taken previously unused names but it does invite wonder. What is interesting is that when Pope Francis—then Archbishop Bergoglio of Buenos Aires—was in Argentina, he served as Ordinary for the Eastern Rite Church who had no Ordinary of their own there. Pope Francis has a long history of reaching out to the Eastern Church.
Even the Russian Orthodox Church, long resentful of Rome, has opened the door to a future meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kiril of Moscow.
Most intriguing of all, perhaps, is the invitation sent to Rome’s Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni. This may not be a surprise considering the close relationship that he maintained with the Jewish community in Argentina. Even the conservatism of Pope Francis seems no trouble to Rabbi David Rosen who calls it “the sweetest of ironies” that many times the Church’s conservatives have the best disposition toward Judaism.
We are witnessing something exciting and every one of us—Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Sikhs, Agnostics and Atheists—should take it all in and hope for the best for Pope Francis I.
If you are a praying person, do as his Tweet requests.
This site and the material contained herein is protected by copyright and trademark laws under U.S. and International law. No part may be copied without written permission of the author.
© copyright 2011-2013. Travis Rogers, Jr. All rights reserved.
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