The following comes from a March 3 story by John Allen in the National Catholic Reporter.
ROME – While there are still no tracking polls to establish who’s got
legs as a papal candidate, the 2013 conclave at least has one
objective measure not available in 2005: past performance. Many of the
cardinals seen as candidates now were also on offer the last time
around, and someone who had traction eight years ago could be a
contender again.
By that measure alone, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires,
Argentina, at least merits a look.
After the dust settled from the election of Benedict XVI, various
reports identified the Argentine Jesuit as the main challenger to
then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. One cardinal later said the conclave
had been “something of a horse race” between Ratzinger and Bergoglio,
and an anonymous conclave diary splashed across the Italian media in
September 2005 claimed that Bergoglio received 40 votes on the third
ballot, just before Ratzinger crossed the two-thirds threshold and
became pope.
Though it’s hard to say how seriously one should take the specifics,
the general consensus is that Bergoglio was indeed the “runner-up”
last time around. He appealed to conservatives in the College of
Cardinals as a man who had held the line against liberalizing currents
among the Jesuits, and to moderates as a symbol of the church’s
commitment to the developing world.
Back in 2005, Bergoglio drew high marks as an accomplished
intellectual, having studied theology in Germany. His leading role
during the Argentine economic crisis burnished his reputation as a
voice of conscience, and made him a potent symbol of the costs
globalization can impose on the world’s poor.
Bergoglio’s reputation for personal simplicity also exercised an
undeniable appeal – a Prince of the Church who chose to live in a
simple apartment rather than the archbishop’s palace, who gave up his
chauffeured limousine in favor of taking the bus to work, and who
cooked his own meals.
Another measure of Bergoglio’s seriousness as a candidate was the
negative campaigning that swirled around him eight years ago.
Three days before the 2005 conclave, a human rights lawyer in
Argentina filed a complaint charging Bergoglio with complicity in the
1976 kidnapping of two liberal Jesuit priests under the country’s
military regime, a charge Bergoglio flatly denied. There was also an
e-mail campaign, claiming to originate with fellow Jesuits who knew
Bergoglio when he was the provincial of the order in Argentina,
asserting that “he never smiled.”
All of that by way of saying, Bergoglio was definitely on the radar
screen. Of course he’s eight years older now, and at 76 is probably
outside the age window many cardinals would see as ideal. Further, the
fact he couldn’t get over the hump last time may convince some
cardinals there’s no point going back to the well.
That said, many of the reasons that led members of the college to take
him seriously eight years ago are still in place.
Born in Buenos Aires in 1936, Bergoglio’s father was an Italian
immigrant and railway worker from the region around Turin, and he has
four brothers and sisters. His original plan was to be a chemist, but
in 1958 he instead entered the Society of Jesus and began studies for
the priesthood. He spent much of his early career teaching literature,
psychology and philosophy, and early on he was seen as a rising star.
From 1973 to 1979 he served as the Jesuit provincial in Argentina,
then in 1980 became the rector of the seminary from which he had
graduated.
These were the years of the military junta in Argentina, when many
priests, including leading Jesuits, were gravitating towards the
progressive liberation theology movement. As the Jesuit provincial,
Bergoglio insisted on a more traditional reading of Ignatian
spirituality, mandating that Jesuits continue to staff parishes and
act as chaplains rather than moving into “base communities” and
political activism.
Although Jesuits generally are discouraged from receiving
ecclesiastical honors and advancement, especially outside mission
countries, Bergoglio was named auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires in
1992 and then succeeded the ailing Cardinal Antonio Quarracino in
1998. John Paul II made Bergoglio a cardinal in 2001, assigning him
the Roman church named after the legendary Jesuit St. Robert
Bellarmino.
Over the years, Bergoglio became close to the Comunione e Liberazione
movement founded by Italian Fr. Luigi Giussani, sometimes speaking at
its massive annual gathering in Rimini, Italy. He’s also presented
Giussani’s books at literary fairs in Argentina. This occasionally
generated consternation within the Jesuits, since the ciellini once
upon a time were seen as the main opposition to Bergoglio’s fellow
Jesuit in Milan, Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini.
On the other hand, that’s also part of Bergoglio’s appeal, someone who
personally straddles the divide between the Jesuits and the ciellini,
and more broadly, between liberals and conservatives in the church.
Bergoglio has supported the social justice ethos of Latin American
Catholicism, including a robust defense of the poor.
“We live in the most unequal part of the world, which has grown the
most yet reduced misery the least,” Bergoglio said during a gathering
of Latin American bishops in 2007. “The unjust distribution of goods
persists, 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.”
At the same time, he has generally tended to accent growth in personal
holiness over efforts for structural reform.
Bergoglio is seen an unwaveringly orthodox on matters of sexual
morality, staunchly opposing abortion, same-sex marriage, and
contraception. In 2010 he asserted that gay adoption is a form of
discrimination against children, earning a public rebuke from
Argentina’s President, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
Nevertheless, he has shown deep compassion for the victims of
HIV-AIDS; in 2001, he visited a hospice to kiss and wash the feet of
12 AIDS patients.
Bergoglio also won high marks for his compassionate response to the
1994 bombing in Buenos Aires of a seven-story building housing the
Argentine Jewish Mutual Association and the Delegation of the
Argentine Jewish Association. It was one of the worst anti-Jewish
attacks ever in Latin America, and in 2005 Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz of
the Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding at Sacred Heart
University in Fairfield, Connecticut, praised Bergoglio’s leadership.
“He was very concerned with what happened, Ehrenkranz said. “He’s got
experience.”
Nevertheless, after the conclave of 2005 some cardinals candidly
admitted to doubts that Bergoglio really had the steel and “fire in
the belly” needed to lead the universal church. Moreover, for most of
the non-Latin Americans, Bergoglio was an unknown quantity. A handful
remembered his leadership in the 2001 Synod of Bishops, when Bergoglio
replaced Cardinal Edward Egan of New York as the relator, or chairman,
of the meeting after Egan went home to help New Yorkers cope with the
9/11 terrorist attacks. In that setting, Bergoglio left a basically
positive but indistinct impression.
Bergoglio may be basically conservative on many issues, but he’s no
defender of clerical privilege, or insensitive to pastoral realities.
In September 2012, he delivered a blistering attack on priests who
refuse to baptize children born out of wedlock, calling it a form of
“rigorous and hypocritical neo-clericalism.”
To read the entire story, click here.
I don’t know about “fire in the belly”, but the fact that the new Pope chose the name “Francis” tells me that he sees his responsibility to “rebuild the Church”, as God instructed St. Francis of Assisi. His choosing this name is not a coincidence nor is it because he is kind to the poor and is nice to animals. It is more than that. I am greatly encouraged!
Habemus Papam!! Pray much for our new pope.
Thank you for running this story. It has a lot of the information that I had wondered about our new Pope. Much better than the secular media who got caught off-guard. Even if it is from the National Catholic Reporter.
God bless our new Pope! This is a great time to fast and pray…..our prayers are with our New Pope Francis! Praise Be Jesus Christ!
Pope Francis is 76 and will not have enough time to really change much of anything. He should have been elected Pope in 2005. JP2 and B16 caused to much damage that will not be repaired by the Church. There is still millions of victims coming forward, which includes the Pope’s country and the rest of the Americas. The next phase will be the arrest and prosecution of the obstructionist bishops and others of the world wide cover up. It is starting to happen in the United States among other places. The victims will still champion the Church’s crimes against minor children or put simply as crimes against humanity The victims will remain to prevail while the Church fights the truth of the atrocities it has perpetrated against Catholic Children and their Families.
Steve, the damage was already there, but lurking beneath the surface. The Church had not prepared for great social change, and was caught napping. These recent popes helped expose the chaos, corruption and blindness … Those who prefer to live with heads in sand, well that’s your choice.
Recent Popes did what? Exposed the world wide coverup of child abuse? The victims exposed the scandal to you and the rest of the world. Jesus does not agree with you or the last two Popes that lead the world wide coverup of child priest rape and enablement. Stop drinking the cool aid and wake up.
Steve, you’re another one of those illuminated souls who has exclusive access to Jesus … more power to you, dude.
Steve, the evil network was already in place. Many people began to open it up to the light. The Pope Emeritus revealed gradually to the world that he could see “filth” in the Church. This is strong wording and motivates, encourages many to dig in and shine the light. Some people delusionally believe that popes are absolute despots or magic men who can wave their wands and all bishops fall on their faces … Steve, you need to start studying about real life.
I believe Jesus stands and holds up the victims of priest child rape. If that is judged by you as some kind of abnormal special access in your eye’s mind, then so be it .The institutional Church not only did nothing to stop child abuse by the clergy they covered it up as well and enabled them more access to abuse countless numbers of innocent children. for decades. Jesus stands with the victims of priest child rape and the coverup. The victims will prevail in bringing out the truth.
Steve, I think I see what you are trying to say, but had to get through your emotionalist rhetoric to do so. But your rhetoric such as “institutional Church” can mean many things. Who knows what you mean by the term. I’ve suggested getting rid of the Vatican bureaucracy … But Jesus Christ “instituted” the Church. Perhaps you’ve gotten rid of this “institution” from your life, you don’t say. But obviously you’re filled with hate of those who violate the goodness of children … God hates that too, and so do I. But although emotion filled and illogical rants can gain the attention of people who can more effectively work to solve a problem, these things in themselves also can feed the devil.
Great Wisdom–comes with age!
I am greatly encouraged as well…on matters of human sexuality, he will not budge, sin is sin… and men are not allowed to bugger each other, on pain of “mortal sin”…
There is a whole lot more to stopping “buggering” than stopping “buggering”; the causes of it (on the societal level) need to be severely attenuated, and these two big factors are idol worship and adultery. It is so bad that it has been institutionalized in many layers … going to be really a difficult crusade to undo it all by convincing civilization to put a tabu on it.
absolutely Skai…the ‘evil one” never sleeps…
God chose a faithful and humble servant, not a conductor of press conferences.
If God chose him, then why does it take 115 cardinals to vote? No, the cardinals chose him, and hopefully he fulfills God’s will. I still do not understand how one sees God controlling everything and yet there is so much corruption. It makes more sense that men act the best they can, given the resources of God. Or, maybe our faithful prayers become one with God and create reality. But I have no expectation that any blogger here will be able to explain it.
By your logic God doesn’t create life as it takes a woman to give birth.
Giving birth is nature. God created nature. God created men who are cardinals. But God created men who vote. How can you believe that God stuffs the ballot box? And the televangelists create believers in magic, even though God created the televangelists, who then created televangelism. Take St Peter for example: He denied Christ three times; so Juergensen, is your logic saying that God made St Peter deny Christ?
Skai then how do you suppose that the Bible was inspired by the Holy Ghost written by men but still inspired by the Holy Ghost. ..just a thought
As Abeca noted, by your logic God isn’t the author of scripture as man put ink to paper – all part of “nature”.
So, let’s see: God didn’t inspire the conclave; God doesn’t create life; and God isn’t the author of scripture. Aren’t those atheistic views?
The men who penned the Bible did so faithfully. Men who vote for popes do not necessarily do so faithfully. Popes are not necessarily faithful. There is nothing in the Bible that contradicts Catholic dogma, nor are there any internal contradictions within the Bible. It is a known fact that several cardinals are extremely corrupt; one of the voted and one of them didnt’; and these two may not be the only extremely corrupt cardinals. If they were, then it would have been relatively easy for a pope to clean up the mess. But he he didn’t. So, when you read or hear those “God is in control” pitches for the rose colored glasses parades, then try to line that up with the doctrine that every soul has free will (except perhaps those who have sold it to the devil).
God inspires everyone, but not everyone responds to that inspiration. When they do, it is known as a “faith response”. Patriarch Abraham was the first one who “believed God”, ie who responded to the inspiration. “Believed God” is the same as “exercised faith in God”, or “made a faith response to God”. God invites; man chooses to respond or not. St Andrew saw Jesus and immediately followed Him … a faith response worthy of a Gospel account. St Thomas had to explore the inspiration before responding faithfully, by feeling the Crucifixion wounds of Jesus. Some souls make that faith response only after a long life and on their death beds.
Pope Frank! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Seems like a great man. I think it’s wonderful that a non-European was chosen. Very solid credentials. It also seems as though he has charisma and that he has vigor.
Hope to see him at the Walk for Life in SF in 2014!
Your good drinking buddy, Rodda?!
Don’t be a heretic R.B.–Pope Francis is our Vicar of Christ. Respect and Repent.
Rodda how disrespectful and repulsive….please address with reverence…. Skai great comments, hope Rodda see’s how his comments came across!
From Pope Francis…
“Not only are they (human rights) violated by terrorism, repression and assassinations, but also with the existence of conditions of extreme poverty and unjust economic structures.”
“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 persists, 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.”
And Jesus says we shall always have the poor. So does this mean we make our decisions based on the polyanna idea that we will end poverty?
I suppose you think you are rhetorically clever.
We are called to work for justice and to aid and protect the poor and we must make decisions in accordance with that calling.
Actually Skai brings up an interesting point. Jesus did say the poor would be with us always, but I don’t think people really stop to ponder what that means. What is the purpose of the poor? And I do think they serve a greater purpose. For instance, the poor give the rich a reason to give of their abundance, so the rich do not turn their riches into an idol. Sometimes the poor are poor because of bad choices, becoming a lesson to the young. Being poor can be a personal journey, that the not-so-poor cannot judge. Rich or poor, neither will have true joy without the Risen Christ; something Pope Francis recently warned the faithful when he suggested that the Church will function as an “NGO” if does not preach the Gospel.
Yes, Nightengale, the “we” of Brian S. requires the Gospel preaching called for by Pope Francis.
Yes, Brian S., I am indeed “rhetorically clever”, and can wield a rhetorical cleaver.
Define “the poor”….the poor in California standards…with nice cell phones, free star bucks, are on welfare and food stamps, section 8 for over 5 years and in their drive way…they have big rig trucks, BMW, free lunch, while the middle class keep working like slaves to pay for that for them,…..
WE ARE THE STRUGGLING MIDDLE CLASS!
In Mexico…I saw real poor folks…kids on the streets trying to sell gum just to survive and bring food home….here it’s totally different….I know that there are real poor USA people too and yes I support them but how many are really not! …SO define “the poor”
Good comments Skai!
AC, you are so right. The poorest in America are better off than the poor in the rest of the world, and yet our American poor complain and want more. The ideology behind our welfare system is not only unsustainable, it really is not helping our poor. Our welfare system is creating a modern-day slave class, that either will not, or cannot take care of itself, and they are willing to abdicate their freedom to let government do that job for them. This is slavery. I heard a wealthy (politically liberal) couple explain why they were in favor of more taxes. It was not really to help the poor. This couple was afraid if they don’t give the poor what they want, the poor will come and take it from the rich(er) by force. The rich couple was motivated by fear, not compassion. The current welfare system does not restore the poor (of any degree) to community. It isolates them. It’s not enough to just give the poor money or things, the poor must learn how to better themselves and be restored to the rest of the community. This is the harder job. It’s easier for some to give money to the problem, and hope it goes away. But it’s not going away, and is getting worse. Only the Gospel of Christ can turn ungrateful hearts back to God, and heal our land.
This country is poor in spirit! We’re literally starving to death…so much so that we’re sacrificing our children and our futures to the false idols of fame, success, and the love of money, money, money. We’ll do anything for our heartless idols, who demand ever more and give us no peace. No one has enough. John Paul Getty said one can’t have enough money. Ask George Soros if he has enough money. Ask Oprah if she has enough shoes. Ask any movie star if they have enough fame? We’re a nation of alienation and loneliness. People no longer remember their grandparents’ stories. We’re losing our identities and no longer know or care anymore where we’ve been or we’re going…and yet you still hear that we’re the richest nation on earth? Isn’t being rich having enough? Isn’t having enough to eat, being surrounded by family and friends, knowing our neighbors, being part of a community being rich?
I know my dad always felt rich, but he would have been considered very poor by today’s standards. I say we’re a nation of beggars, looking for a home and finding none. Of course, I’m speaking rhetorically, for those of us who have faith in God, the communion of saints, and our beloved Church, this is not true (and not true for any who have faith) but we’re no longer in the majority, are we? Mother Theresa thought we were such lonely people and she was right. We’re separated by our cars, our electronic gadgetry, our independent lifestyle we all cherish. We’re so remote from one another that it’s no wonder everything is so divisive these days…from our politics to our taste in food. I make a really tasty meatloaf for my husband, just as my mother made for us growing up. It’s a simple American dish that most young people would turn their nose up at now. Television has created such an insatiable appetite for the exotic, the expensive and the extreme.It’s all part and parcel of this nation of self-indulgent, self-motivated, self-improved, self-aware, self new and improved__self-ish and self-centered, hungry and ruined people…though that could change overnight. Remember that the end of civilization is only one meal away.
abeca, if you are a family of 4 with income of less than 24,000, then you are poor. One-fourth of the full time jobs in America pay less that $24,000. Poor does not have to mean destitute.
Once again, enough of John Allen and the National AntiCatholic Distorter!
In view of the report of Roger Cardinal Mohoney’s 2005 vote for heterodox Cardinal Martini, it would be interesting to hear who he voted for this time.
Allen covered most of the points. You have to use your faith and reason to determine how factual or if any are true. It’s not John Allen but the one who reads his stuff. It’s not the devil, but the one who can’t break away from him. Hiding you head in the sand makes you vulnerable … and this is recommended by those who parade around in the Castro District.
F1 should establish the fact that free enterprise capitalism is the best economic system for doing the most good for the most people.
If he wishes to condemn the excesses of capitalism,do so,but don’t
try to destroy a good economic system like our progressive/communist potus Obama is trying to do.
He should admonish world leaders,including himself,to obey the 10 Comms,especially those against lies,fraud,abortion,sodomy,sodomy marriage,etc.,etc.
I am encouraged by our new Popes commitment to the poor and to victims of abuse, but it saddens me that he maintains such a staunch position with other social issues. You help a gay teenager who is contemplating suicide, and then you will truly understand that we must love and accept all of God’s children.
I’m with you JFK. How dare they vote in yet another Catholic to be Pope!
For me it was a devastating day. Could not be a worse choice in my opinion. Well, except for Roger Cardinal Mahony.
The dearth of Latin Masses offered in a major metropolitan area as Buenos Aires is a telling situation.
Just an observation!
I have already posted my congratulations to Pope Francis and the Argentinians under the Article “Do We Dare Hope for Cardinal Burke? The more I hear about Pope Francis , the more I like him. We did not get a pope from the United States of America, and I doubted we would, but we certainly got a most excellent Latin American — an honor for ALL Americans, North and South.
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?feature=play
Should you wish to watch how the mass is offered by Pope Francisco Bergoglio please Google : Misa de niños 2011 – 3.wmv
If you like guitar and baloon masses with liturgical dancers you will love it.
Gratias, although this might not be “our cup of tea’ or even coffee, it is a Mass for children, not adults, and was done outdoors. Remember too that the beautiful Christmas carol, Silent Night, was first sung with a guitar because the organ in the church where the priest composed it had broken. At my age, I have gone through some guitar Masses and am tired of them, but if they are done according to the rubrics they are all right for some people. Different cultures praise the Lord in different ways, and as long as it is done in a decent manner, and the Extraordinary Mass is allowed for those who want it, it should not offend the Lord. Charismatic Masses have never held much appeal for me for I am not a very emotional person, but some people really like to worship God that way. Give this pope a chance. The Lord looks at the heart and not always the outward appearance.
Also, Gratias and Jenek, many a conservative priest has appeared at a church not really knowing just how the Mass would be conducted and made the best of it at that time. I have heard some of them complain about being hijacked into certain types of Masses..
Ditto Anne T.!!!
This has been a terrible election. Cardinal Bergoglio has prohibited the Latin Mass in Buenos Aires and has persecuted priests that celebrated that wonderful mass.
God help us with the election of this horrible Pope.
“Horrible pope?”
What in the heck is the matter with you?
VATICAN CITY | Fri May 13, 2011 7:37am EDT
(Reuters) – The Vatican told Catholic bishops around the world on Friday they had to obey a papal order allowing priests to say the old-style Latin mass for traditionalist Catholics, whether they liked it or not.
So much for “paz tecum.”
Your post is more like “vomit vobiscum.”
Those who put themselves above the Church are like the rebels of old who turned against Catholicism to remake it into something they wanted…Henry VIII comes to mind…and Martin Luther…and other men who immediately attacked the Papacy for their own agendas.
May God have mercy of you as you attack the new Pope with some pit bull on Red Bull…
Mackz, I hear the heels of your jack boots clicking … sounds good, dude. And with your mind full of Luther, Henry VIII and others you should have your course cut out for you.
LOL!…right on Skai
Skai, you are very clever with your comments…you should have your own column! Love the jack boots remark in particular.
However, in the spirit of transparency, I was only wearing tennis shoes when I wrote that. Tried to click them together, but only got a smooshing sound.
Already people are posting negative stuff….Lord have mercy. Where is this all coming from???….These attacks are uncalled for.
It would be most charitable to deny one self the temptation to post such things for now….offer it up and keep this New Pope in your prayers….and people stereo type Latin Mass attendee’s for being so rigid? Gee I wonder why. I’m not trying to knock anyone off, but you must not be lead by fear….remember our new Pope is new in his position.
If you believe that the Holy Ghost runs this church…then please share those concerns with the Holy Ghost in prayer and in silence before you start of this papacy with disdain.
Just this week we have never heard of this Pope and now….where are people getting all those negative reports…..not everything we read on the internet could be the whole truth. Not unless we have someone posting that is from Argentina and knows personally…then we will see
I wanted to add that I am not disregarding anyone’s concerns..no at all…but please keep away from being tempted to express this early on…..also today I was listening to Immaculate heart radio, which I like, except for the few comments the host of that show, it was around 2:15pm today San Diego time, I didn’t appreciate him denying the fact that there are abuses in the NO mass, this is also shameful, I didn’t feel like he was very orthodox nor honest about what is happening today in our church, I wish I knew his name but when I turned it on, they didn’t repeat his name for me to know.
I turned it off, his comments are also hurtful to those who hold tradition and know the faith well….that too infuriates me because his comments come off huge as a denial that abuses do occur in the NO mass. So now I can compassionately understand why some of the more Traditional faithful voice their concerns, those who do not value the more Traditional element of the faith tend to write off many of those concerns. Those provoke strong sentiments….well anyhoo, lets not deny the concerns but for now, lets keep those concerns aside and offer them and offer up our prayers to our New Pope…Please.
What are his beliefs on the Tridentine Mass and tradition ? I see someone is already comfortable enough to call him “Pope Frank” nice, very disrespecfull !!!
They called Pope Benedict XVI by the nickname B16, like a vitamin, and often with great fondness.
They called his predecessor JPII with fondness also, and the world didn’t stop spinning…lighten up.
I heard a quote from a revert on “The Journey Home” program on EWTN the other day. It is ” in the Church there is no right or left, liberal or conservative, there is only orthodoxy or heresy.
The “either/or” syndrome is a sign that there is room for further “revertion”.
Let’s wait and see before we start giving the new Pope awards, one should be aware of his letting Jews, Protestants, Muslims, in his cathedral in Buenos Aires, also in 2006 on Argentine television he knelt before Evangelical TV pastors and received their “blessing” very very disturbing. And most important he is an arch enemy of the Traditional Latin Mass, he persecuted his priests who dared to say the TLM or wear cassocks in public.Very shocking last night on the balcony when he gave the Urbi et Orbi, he quickly took off his Papal stoles and mozzeta, I for one feel very very uneasy about this new Pope. The S.S.P.X. should have taken up the offer of our great Holy Father Benedict the XVI who went out of his way to let them re-enter the Holy Roman Catholic Church, now all bets are off for any chances. Too bad it was not Cardinal Ranjith of Sri Lanka, who ordered all his priests to give Holy Communion on the tounge and kneeling as our Holy Father did, he speaks 10 languages and is a great supporter of the TLM.
Pope Francis “persecuted” his priests who dared to wear cassocks in public?
My apologies but that does not ring true.
Rodda, you need to get your news from better sources than CNN.
Might be better this way, in the event that this Pope hammers down the EF.
Janek, you speak with great venom about the Vicar Of Christ on earth.
This is a clear sign of “you know what” from “you know who,” and it’s not pretty.
Let’s just say your words don’t come from above.
Viva Pope Francis! Thank you dear Lord for this humble and faithful shepherd. Pro life, Pro family, Pro marriage…….!!!
Viva Pope Francis I !
Yes, clown Masses, balloons, dancing you got it, this is how Cardinal Bergoglio celebrated Mass in Buenos Aires. The TLM will have no support from this Pope, and a Jesuit to boot!! Attention all Traditionalists it is time to get back into the trenches for the duration of this Papacy,looks pretty bleek for us.
Janek please stop the hysteria…..do you not believe that Now that he is Pope, that the Holy Ghost will guide him? How about praying for Him, that would be perfect charity, just do it out of love and not of our pride.
I grew up only knowing the NO mass of this USA, there were many abuses and for some reason, God has later on corrected some of my views that came from those abuses that I was exposed too in the NO mass. I now love and appreciate the Latin Mass and also the most reverent NO mass as well. If our Lord can change me, a nobody, ….just what would He have in store for our New Pope, especially through our fasting and prayers for him.
If he is as humble as everyone is saying, then you have nothing to fear. For humility and holiness leads to all that is good!
So don’t fret my dear sister in Christ…..
Just remember his TOTAL crackdown on all Traditional Latin Masses in Buenos Aires and you will understand him. This is not whom our Holy Father Pope Benedict was hoping for, but scary that two thirds of the Cardinals voted for him!! He is a complete and total Vatican II believer so be prepared for some weird things to happen. Poor Guido Marini the papal Master of Ceremonies looked very sad standing on the balcony of St. Peters yesterday.
There are already very clear indications that the attempted reform of Benedict is history, vanished in a puff of white smoke.
“Pray for me, that I not flee for fear of the wolves.”
Thank you, Pope Benedict XVI, for “Summorum Pontificum”.
Let us pray for Francis, our Pope.
May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.
(Our Father, Hail Mary)
O God, Shepherd and Ruler of all Thy faithful people, look mercifully upon Thy servant Francis, whom Thou hast chosen as shepherd to preside over Thy Church. Grant him, we beseech Thee, that by his word and example, he may edify those over whom he hath charge, so that together with the flock committed to him, may he attain everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
From whom or what resources are you getting this information, Janek? Those are serious charges, indeed and unsubstantiated innuendos are a cruel way to welcome a new pope.
So, your suspicion is that the Vatican bankers won? Hey, nobody has mentioned yet the “miracle” healing that Pope Francis received, where he was all but dead and miraculously came back to life: an event associated in the Book of the Apocalypse with the Anti-Christ. So, let’s see how much play can be drawn up from this little historic tidbit.
Janek, your true colors are showing, and it’s not a pretty sight.
Janek, are you sure that he totally crackeddown on the Traditional Latin Mass or just the ones which were done without their bishops approval at times? Please make sure you have the facts.
It appears to have been an internet hoax. It is now being said that he instituted a TLM within 48 hours of the release of Summorum Pontificum.
I read that he did also. There is a lot of misinformation going around on the internet — some deliberately to disturb people. It is best to wait and check thoroughly. He also goes to see Emeritus Pope Benedict.
Janek where did you hear that? Be careful about spreading rumors especially if they may be gossip.
A taste of things to come? Over at Father Z’s blog the concluding Mass in The Sistine Chapel just finished and lo and behold the “peoples” table was set right in front of the Traditional altar set against the wall for Ad-orientem worship. Also the new Pope was vested in Novus Ordo style robes, not off to a great start. My how I miss Pope Benedict the XVI only after 24 hours.
Janek, you’re missing more than Pope Emeritus Benedict…
Janek try not to grief, this is a Latin Pope. In Latin America, from what I have seen myself growing up, their Mass is traditional and not in Tridentine Mass.
Please pray for our Pope Francis, for running our church in the way it is now, it will take great courage and strength, especially in humility and holiness, yes humility because of it’s current issues, if one comes in with fear and anger it will only backfire but with humility it may convert more hearts especially now with many fallen away Catholics joining protestant sects, they are not inspired to return to a Mass they don’t understand because when they taste the format of protestantism, it will take something stronger and holy to correct that heresy out of their flesh.
We have surely been BLESSED by OUR GOOD LORD!!!
What a humble and holy man!!!
Let everyone keep our new Holy Father in our prayers.
Have some of you read the children’s book by Tommie de Paola called “The Crown of God”? It is about a young man whose only talent is juggling, so he makes his living juggling until he is to old to do it any more. When he is near death, he enters a church and goes to talk to the Lord before a statue of the Virgin and the Christ Christ. He tells the Lord he has no money or anything else to give him, but he then decides that he will give him the only thing he has — his talent for juggling balls. Then he does a performance for God before the statue and passes away. When a religious comes into the side chapel before the old man dies and sees what he is doing, he calls out, “Blasphemy!.” The story ends with one of the balls in the hand of the Christ Child with a smile on his face. Some of act us like that religious at times and do not see the heart of the person but the outward appearance only.
I concur let’s keep the new Pope in all our prayers and special intention’s, hoe beautiful Easter is right around the corner
Those Catholic’s who support “same sex” marriage are sinning…those who aid in attempting to pass legislation are “gravely sinning”…From what I have heard our new Pope is staunchly “traditional” when it comes to matters of human sexuality…some bloggers on this site who continue to seek answers, have already received “an answer”, they disapprove of the fact that they are denied “same sex” romance…they want others… and especially the Church to endorse and approve of this shameful behavior…ain’t gonna happen…uh-uh
Paleobotanist, are you saying that you believe that romance is a bad thing? I think romance is something beautiful as opposed to sexual assault which is evil. In our country today there are many young women that are practically slaves, they are used and abused, this is the antithesis of romance.
PA stop twisting what Paleobotanist is trying to say.
it’s sad Mark…women say men objectify them as …amybe so
Palebotanist, not all men objectify women but there is a small group of men that do use women in horrible ways. It is a tragedy but slavery does exist today in our world. The lives of many women are at risk from this.
Yes, my colors are indeed showing, that is for the Mass of All Times, as it was before Vatican II. If we are wrong now them we were wrong then! The Novus Ordo is a made up fabrication that was tried and did not and does not work. The Holy Father Pope Benedict understood this and tried his best to rectify a broken Mass, with little to no support from his bishops.
At my beautiful parish we have a TLM weekly…I attend only occasionally, as my wife prefers the reverent Novus Ordo we attend… I have my 1962 missal, whic I purchased in Rome, and is complete with the nihil obstat and imprimatur of PBXVI…when I attend the TLM at our parish, it is full to overflow, people are outside on chairs and kneeling before the sacredness of the TLM…so beautiful, so very edifying…
I always marveled at how prolific a writer PBXVI was. He produced an overwhelming amount of outstanding theological and philosophical material for the Catholic faithful to meditate and become personally enriched by…I feel that we are blessed to have Pope Francis I as our new Pope…Praise Be Jesus Christ, now and forever
“Let’s wait and see before we start giving the new Pope awards.”
Janek, I don’t think the Holy Father, or anyone else on this planet, is holding their breath for any awards you would give out.
He is the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, and you are…some guy (or gal) on the internet. Spew all the venom you want, but the facts remain the same…namely, habemus Papam!
I have so much reafing to catch up on…PBXVI wrote so many beautiful theological texts, I don’t know where to begin, it took me forever to work thru most of the documents and encyclicals of PJPII, but it was worth it…a close family friend said that Benedict’s writings have been outstanding as well… perfect time to catch up
Paleo, you had me going there for a moment: I thought “reafing” was some young person’s word I hadn’t heard of yet!
Finally realized you meant “reading” after I finished going through your post about papal books.
I think reafing is when you go through the pages really quick and just read the paragraphs that look interesting.
no reefer gere…just reading…good books mackz…i also love the works of archbishop fulton j. sheen, so very inspirational, and it is written with a kind of innocence that touch’s me so..
From Father Z’s blog:
“Forty-eight hours after Summorum Pontificum, then Card. Bergoglio arranged Holy Mass in the traditional Roman Rite.”
In other words, back in 2007, when the Holy Father encouraged a wider use of the TLM, Cardinal Bergoglio obeyed INSTANTLY.
So much for “the sky is falling!” hysteria we’ve been hearing from a few malcontencts trying to tear the Church apart right after we receive a new Pope…
A fair and balanced piece of reporting. An unexpected surprise coming from the National Catholic Reporter! Kudos to John Allen!
This Tuesday will be a tell all of how future Papal Masses will be, Guido Marini I assume will be the MC for this, I dread the fact he will be gone and dread it even further when we see ghastly Novus Ordonarian polyester vestments, no more chant, Latin, kneeling for communion on the tounge and everything Pope Benedict was bringing back. And please it is quite old already about the new Pope being ‘humble” he needs to remember it is not all about him, it is the fact of what he represents and that is Jesus Christ on earth. So being dressed in lovely vestments is not being a snob but dressing to please God with the beauty Our Lord deserves, there in lies the differnence. Just like the Traditional Latin Mass, everything about it from the gestures of the priest and altar boys, to the music is all about God not us!!!!
I’ve already grown weary of hearing how humble Pope Francis is, I confess. “We are so very ‘umble” said Uriah Heep. It reminds me of Obama…for the first four years of his presidency, every description of his latest stupid remark or ridiculous behavior was ALWAYS prefaced by “He’s really soooo smart, but…” Anyone whoever really listened to jr. O since day one knew he was not nor ever will be ‘smart’…crafty, duplistic and conniving, I’ll grant him, but intellectually challenging? ha! I just do not feel comfortable with the same description of anyone repeated over and over before we really know whether it is authentic. In the case of our beloved Pope Emeritus, who is truly the most intelligent but authentically humble person on the planet,, one rarely hears him described as humble. We must be loyal and supportive, of course. But I wish people would be a little more circumspect. Also, I’ll feel more comfortable when he starts genuflecting. Does he have arthritis, perhaps?
Okey-dokey…we’ve heard a lot of people rant and rant against the Second Vatican Council, Pope Benedict’s concern for the environment, and now they are even attacking Pope Francis before he even finishes a week in office.
Sounds like you want to form a whole new Church in your own image — which is muy americano, so go right ahead.
Those of us who remain faithful to the Catholic Church we’ve already got, the Pope we welcomed last week, and the Solemn Ecumenical Councils of the Church will stay here and keep the home fires burning.
Against the Pope, but still prancing up to Communion? Here’s what THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SAYS:
1369 The whole Church is united with the offering and intercession of Christ. Since he has the ministry of Peter in the Church, the Pope is associated with every celebration of the Eucharist, wherein he is named as the sign and servant of the unity of the universal Church. The bishop of the place is always responsible for the Eucharist, even when a priest presides; the bishop’s name is mentioned to signify his presidency over the particular Church, in the midst of his presbyterium and with the assistance of deacons. The community intercedes also for all ministers who, for it and with it, offer the Eucharistic sacrifice:
Let only that Eucharist be regarded as legitimate, which is celebrated under [the presidency of] the bishop or him to whom he has entrusted it.
Through the ministry of priests the spiritual sacrifice of the faithful is completed in union with the sacrifice of Christ the only Mediator, which in the Eucharist is offered through the priests’ hands in the name of the whole Church in an unbloody and sacramental manner until the Lord himself comes.
I certainly am not in any way against our new Pope Francis. May God bless and keep him, especially as our vicious society/news media et al,are already putting out critical and mean spirited ‘bios’ about him…like he’s supposed to save Argentina from military tyrants? They accused Pope Pius XII of the same thing…while all the secular ‘leaders’ were folding. I’m just saying I wish we would all be a little more subdued in our support…more prayerful, less adulating on such a superficial, rather idolotrous level. From anything I’ve heard or read about all of our popes in the last one or two hundred years, they’ve ALL been very humble, exceptional and holy men, praise God!