A humble, holy man makes a powerful impression

    So many people had to go to Google immediately to find out more about Cardinal Bergoglio after he was announced as Pope Francis. Had you heard of him before?
    He was on some of the lists of the 12 to 15 cardinals – out of the 115 cardinal electors –   who probably were going to receive serious consideration as the next Holy Father. I had seen his name, but I really didn’t know that much about him. I was surprised, and I think many people in the church are surprised. I think it is very interesting that the cardinals did not select someone who had worked in the curia.
    Pope Francis is known in Argentina for his love for the poor.
    I understand that he either drives himself around or uses public transportation to get where he needs to go. He also has a very small apartment. He cooks a lot of his own meals. He is a man who is among the poor. He said in his first appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s: “Today, I am the pope among the people.” When he very humbly bowed down before the crowd and asked for their blessing and their prayers before giving his own blessing, that was something that deeply touched me.
    It’s hard to grasp that a cardinal can leave his home country with a roundtrip ticket and then, all of a sudden, never really be able to go home again.
    That’s true. Whatever he has in Argentina that he needs he will have to have packed and sent to him. He won’t be leaving the Vatican any time soon to go back to Argentina.
    Do you hope to learn more about Pope Francis in the coming days?
    Yes, and hopefully I’ll learn about some of the things he’s done in his diocese and read some of the things he’s written. But even more importantly, we all need to fulfill his request by praying for him and asking God’s blessings upon him as he undertakes this awesome responsibility.
    What challenges will Pope Francis face?
    I think he knows the gifts and the challenges well, and even though he’s 76, he has a youthfulness about him that will serve him well. He knows of the need for a new evangelization, as called for by Pope Benedict XVI. He knows that we live in challenging times, where sometimes the Scriptures and church teachings are misunderstood and not appreciated. He’s a man who, I think, will call us in a very important way to a fundamental option for the poor. He will call us to examine our own lives as well as the life of the church to make sure we are reaching out to those on the fringes of society. He’s going to be a reconciler who will bring back those who have left the church. He also has to know – as we have heard in recent years – of some of the concerns that people have about some of the congregations and departments in Rome. He will oversee that and bring about a transparency and a reconciliation. He will need our prayers. He seems to be a gentle and holy person, yet a very wise person who will be able to accomplish these things.
    Did you read the reports that he was a serious contender for the papacy in 2005?
    I find all that very interesting. Someone even reported that he had 40 votes in 2005  and was a strong contender. This is all very interesting because those proceedings are supposed to be secret. Everyone inside the room takes a promise of confidentiality. I don’t know how much stock to put in those reports, but they are interesting.
    How do you think Pope Benedict watched all of this?
    It’s fascinating that he watched it on TV just like you and me. That’s the first time in the 2,000-year history of the papacy that a pope watched his successor being selected on TV.
    How will Pope Benedict live out his post-papacy life?
    I would be very surprised if we see Benedict again. But if we do see him, it will be, I have no doubt, in a very quiet and unassuming way that will not in any way obstruct the work of Pope Francis.