14 March 2013
My Notes --------------- New Pope Jorge Bergoglio Taken the Name of Pope Francis From Argentina , he is one of five children Ordained in 1969 He taught literature, psychology and philosophy and theology before becoming archbishop in 1998 A cardinal in 2001 when Argentinas economy was collapsing He won plaudits for blaming unrestrained capitalism for impoverishing millions in the country
The cardinal in his election undoubtedly feel he can that with his Italian roots he will be able to take on the Vatican bureaucracy known as the 'Curia' which have been subject to accusation of money laundering, he is certain to take a tough line on the sexual scandals which continue to embarrass the church world wide
1.2 million Catholics Francis is appointed 266th Bishop of Rome aged 76 Appointed 13th March 2013 Italian parents are immigrants, father. Railway man
Some of his Views ----------------------- He has blasted priests who refuse to baptise children born out of wedlock He is a modern traditionalist Unlikely to soften the churches approach on conception He asked in 2010 the catholic population to oppose gay marriage on the grounds that it would seriously injure the family He has spoken out about liberal abortion laws
And gay adoption arguing that it infringed the rights of the children to both a mother and a father (This earned him rebuke from Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner)
He has shown deep compassion for Aids victims once visiting a hospice to kiss the feet of 12 Aids patients
He has spoken passionately about the importance of pastoral care for divorcees
Colleagues talk about two Father Jorge's one the rigorous intellectual , the other a man who eschewed life in the Archbishops palace in Buenos as well as a chauffeur.
He lives in a small flat heated by a simple stove, in a down- town block , cooking for himself travelling on buses and regularly visiting the sprawling slums on the outskirts of the Argentine capital
He considers helping the very poorest in society, rather than ideological battles about religious doctrines, the essential business of the church
He has labeled those fellow Church leaders who enjoy the trappings of high office as Hypocrites, saying forget that Jesus bathed lepers and ate with prostitutes
This sort of pastoral work aimed at capturing more souls and building a flock was an essential skill for any religious leader in the modern world Ironically, the man who will now have veneration of millions feels most comfortable in taking a very low profile He has many critics who say he didn't do enough when 30, 000 people were killed
The New Pope - 264 • Opuss № I