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Pope Francis I: It’s All In the Name
CE.com ^
| March 14, 2013
| Fr. Michael P. Orsi
Posted on 03/14/2013 7:50:13 PM PDT by Salvation
Paddy Power Dublins bookmakers did not even have him listed as one of the favorites. Jorge Mario Bergoglio , now Pope Francis, is just as much a surprise as was Pope Benedicts resignation. It was leaked that during the Conclave that elected Benedict, Cardinal Bergoglio was also a strong contender. It is also reported by an undisclosed source that he tearfully begged his fellow Cardinals not to elect him.
Much will be said about why Bergoglio was elected. Some will contend that it was a political move by the Cardinals because 40% of the worlds 1.2 billion Catholics live in South America. However, it has less to do with demographics or politics than with the personality of the man himself.
Papa Bergoglios chosen name of Francis I is revealing of who he is and the kind of papacy that we can expect. St. Francis is one of the worlds most beloved and famous saints because of his simplicity of life and love of the poor. He is honored by Catholics and non-Catholics alike. By evoking the name of the poor man of Assisi Pope Francis signals his solidarity with the poor and disenfranchised. From all reports Bergoglio shunned luxury. He lived in a small apartment in Buenos Aires, did his own cooking and took public transportation. He further puts forth the importance of personal spirituality which attracted so many of St. Franciss followers.
Francis knows that much of the corruption in the church has come from a lack of belief or in the negotiability of its central doctrines. It is because of this turn to modernism, which judges truth by worldly criteria , that he will reinforce Catholic teaching. He knows that doctrine and morality go hand in hand. And, that if we believe that Jesus is the Son of God his Gospel must be obeyed. From this, he understands that the churchs moral teaching on social justice and on human sexuality will fall into place.
Francis I is a Jesuit scholar. He is well acquainted with the world. He knows the power of evil. In his own country of Argentina he was all too familiar with corruption and even death squads to eliminate government opponents. He knows that in Latin America and in the rest of the developing world that the Kingdom of God is not brought about by force but by love. During his pontificate he will encourage Christians to take their faith more seriously. He will preach by his own example and humility.
Many were expecting that a younger man would have been elected. Francis is 76. However, there is no doubt that the vigor sought by the Cardinals was not the strength of youth, but the power that comes from sanctity. It is only this supernatural strength that can stem the tide of secularism. This is a lesson that the church learned from the Middle Ages when reforming Religious Orders, like the Franciscans and Dominicans, as well as reform minded popes saved the church from heresy, immorality, and spiritual lethargy among the clergy and laity.
Like St. Francis, this Popes attributes have the ability to not only reunite and invigorate a divided Church, but also to fulfill the vision of the Second Vatican Council to reunite Christians.
TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholic; popefrancis
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Chaplain and Research Fellow at Ave Maria Law. Father Michael P. Orsi was ordained for the Diocese of Camden in 1976 and has a broad background in teaching and educational administration.
1
posted on
03/14/2013 7:50:13 PM PDT
by
Salvation
To: nickcarraway; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; ArrogantBustard; Catholicguy; RobbyS; marshmallow; ...
2
posted on
03/14/2013 7:51:25 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: All
Vultus Christi
"In the Church of St. Damian where he was accustomed to pray, he heard three times a voice from Heaven saying: "Go Francis, rebuild my house which is falling down." (St. Bonaventure, Legenda Maior, Chap. II) But Francis, because of that deep humility which made him think himself incapable of accomplishing any great work whatsoever, did not understand the meaning of these mysterious words. Innocent III, however, discovered their import through the miraculous vision in which Francis was shown in the act of supporting on his shoulders the Church of the Lateran which was falling to the ground. The Pope then understood clearly that the mission of St. Francis was a very special one, given to him by a most merciful God."
Pope Pius XI, Rite Expiatis
13 April 1926
3
posted on
03/14/2013 7:54:35 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation; posterchild; ColdOne; navymom1; Pat4ever; RIghtwardHo; Reaganite Republican; ...
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4
posted on
03/14/2013 7:55:10 PM PDT
by
narses
To: Salvation
He is NOT Francis I. He is Pope Francis. He will not be called “Francis I” until there is a “Francis II”.
To: vladimir998
I realize that. My priest realizes that. You realize that. But the media — and this was Catholic media do not realize it.
God bless.
Sort of funny. They’ll catch on slowly, hopefully!
6
posted on
03/14/2013 8:02:46 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: vladimir998
Aye, just as no man is a “Sr.” until he has begat a “Junior”.
7
posted on
03/14/2013 8:03:49 PM PDT
by
lightman
(If the Patriarchate of the East held a state like the Vatican I would apply for political asylum.)
To: Salvation
I’m watching the Franco Zeffirelli film Brother Sun Sister Moon, on the life of St. Francis. Streaming from Amazon onto my Kindle Fire. Free download for Prime members.
8
posted on
03/14/2013 8:05:30 PM PDT
by
Ciexyz
To: Ciexyz
"Im watching the Franco Zeffirelli film Brother Sun Sister Moon..." If you can find it, I can highly recommend The Flowers of St. Francis.
9
posted on
03/14/2013 8:08:03 PM PDT
by
Joe 6-pack
(Qui me amat, amat et canem meum.)
To: Salvation
Everybody seems to be assuming that the Pope, a Jesuit, took his name from St. Francis of Assisi. Why is that? Is it not at least as likely, if not much more so, that he was thinking of St. Francis Xavier?
10
posted on
03/14/2013 8:13:09 PM PDT
by
cothrige
To: Salvation
May God watch over him always.
11
posted on
03/14/2013 8:14:51 PM PDT
by
jmacusa
(Political correctness is cultural Marxism. I'm not a Marxist.)
To: cothrige
I lean that way too. But evidently he said something explicity about St. Francis of Assisi.
12
posted on
03/14/2013 8:46:04 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation
It is NOT Francis the FIRST because only after there is a Francis the SECOND can there be a Francis the FIRST...that’s what one of the Vatican people said yesterday anyway.
To: Salvation
Here's an interesting tidbit I've just learned. Remember the bird sitting on the chimney of the Sistine Chapel during the conclave? Evidently, there have been a lot of comments about it, especially in the Argentine media. Well, it turns out the bird was of the silver seagull species, Latin name... Larus argentatus! ('argentum' = 'silver' in Latin.)
14
posted on
03/14/2013 8:55:54 PM PDT
by
Revolting cat!
(Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
To: cothrige
He told the Cardinals after his election that he was taking that name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.
15
posted on
03/14/2013 8:59:43 PM PDT
by
EDINVA
To: Revolting cat!
Amazing fact. I wonder if anyone caught it ahead of the white smoke.
16
posted on
03/14/2013 9:07:59 PM PDT
by
Salvation
("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
To: Salvation; EDINVA
Ah, that explains it. Thanks for the clarification.
17
posted on
03/14/2013 9:17:41 PM PDT
by
cothrige
To: Salvation
He looks like Enrico Fermi.
To: Joe 6-pack
Read St. Francis’ sermon to the birds. It’s on the internet. One of my favorites. I’ve been to Assisi. I tell ya, birds rule in Assisi. :-)
19
posted on
03/14/2013 9:48:44 PM PDT
by
virgil
To: virgil
I've read it...I selected "Francis" as my confirmation name many years ago and have read anything and everything I can get my hands on :-)
Chesterton's Saint Francis is probably my absolute favorite...
20
posted on
03/14/2013 9:52:21 PM PDT
by
Joe 6-pack
(Qui me amat, amat et canem meum.)
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