Posted On 2013-06-04 In Francis - Initiatives and Gestures

Yesterday Cardinal Bergoglio, today his Holiness Francis

PARAGUAY, Father Antonio Cosp. On February 23rd, three days before traveling to Rome, thirty-five Schoenstatt Fathers of Father’s Region (Argentina, Italy, Nigeria, Paraguay and Uruguay) met with the Cardinal in the Curia of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires. I was grateful to con-celebrate with him for the first time in his cathedral. We came from Florencio Varela in different automobiles and at different times. He welcomed each group at the door, and he led us into a simple hall. There was a brief introduction, and he made himself available for dialogue. It was a little more than three hours of a profound experience. We asked him about everything, except if he or whoever would be the next Supreme Pontiff. We did ask him what the profile of the next pope should be to which he responded: “a man who prays, who prays…a man who believes, who profoundly believes in Jesus Christ, that He is here…” Benedict left his task clearly affirming that it is Christ who leads the Church.

Father Juan Pablo Catoggio, our regional superior until the end of 2011 wrote: “I ask myself if I have lived such an intensive ecclesial time, of such strong renewal, as those that I am experiencing in these few days. When we visited him, Bergoglio referred to someone whom he compared to Benedict’s resignation – which he referred to not as fragility; but rather, as a vigorous act of government – with John XXIII’s convocation to the council, for the impact and the call to conversion and reform.” I believe he was not mistaken.

Francis is name that is a program

The first Latin American Pope, Argentinean, the first Jesuit Pope, the first Pope Francis. A first time for many things. Speaks to us of something “new”. In continuation with Vatican Council II, Francis is different in many things, and he brings new things, a much needed and long awaited renewal. I am becoming aware that we are living in a time of profound changes, of a profound renewal in the Church…that is so necessary and long awaited! May his example lead all of us to be a little more “Francis”. Francis is a name that is a program. It is the desire for a poor Church and for the poor. Francis received the call of God: “Francis repair my Church,” rebuild my Church! Francis represents the radicalism of the Gospel, from simplicity and poverty. In his very brief intervention in the general congregations last week – he did not even use the five minutes that were at his disposition – before the cardinals of the Church, he expressed that the Church should show the face of Christ. “Bergoglio could be defined as a Jesuit who God transformed into a Franciscan,” deputy Lilta Carrió said.

Shepherds who smell like sheep

Our Pope Francis’ first gestures already have been revolutionary; he disarms with his simplicity and naturalness. He bowed so that the people of God would pray for him, so that God would bless him. For minutes the world was silent and prayed. Many times he said, this is why we need “shepherds with the smell of sheep” close to the people, simple, humble. The “Year of the Missionary Stream” of our Schoenstatt Family – on the road to 2014 – leads us in these very special circumstances to “love the Church more.

Like our Father, who also exercised his authority as service and giving of self, showing the real power of love is exercised by renouncing it, allowing himself to be deprived of it, as it was in Dachau and in Milwaukee.

A significant event of his life. As a young man, he incidentally met a priest who he did not know and who transmitted a great spirituality, so he decided to go to confession with him. “During this confession, something strange happened to me, I do not know what it was, but it changed my life; I would say that it surprised me with my guard down.” More than half a century later, he interprets it like this: “It was the surprise, the overwhelming amazement of that encounter. I understood that they were waiting for me. That is a religious experience: the astonishment of meeting someone who is waiting for you. For me, as of this moment, God is the one who “makes you first”. One is seeking Him, but He seeks you first. One wants to find Him, but He finds us first”. It is the time for mission; it is the time of new evangelization. Jesus want to make many “first” through is many vicars.

My personal reflection

Christ is not concerned that his family, the Church gets old. It is part of being human. He is greatly concerned that it does not rejuvenate! Benedict is inspired, he resigns, and he leaves the way to a new youth that brings the aroma of spring as on March 13th. Peter is the first vicar of Jesus Christ, “he takes the place of the other.” Each baptized person is also a vicar of Jesus. Bergoglio’s choice of being Francis, vicar of the Lord, calls us to place youthful enthusiasm in our life as Christians, that we are also other Christs. Our task is to infect many with the passion of our faith. To be divine through grace is a great deal. To infect others every minute of this holy essence…is our task as missionaries. It is a new hour of Cana! From our Homeshrines offer the best wine: the covenant that engages with Mary and Christ, the Eucharist and the Holy Spirit.

Bergoglio’s three pearls:

What would you tell divorced people who are in a new relationship?

“For them to integrate into the parish community, that they work there because there are things in a parish that they can do. For them to seek to be part of the spiritual community, which is what the pontifical documents and the Magisterium of the Church advise. The Pope pointed out that the Church accompanies them in this situation. It is true that it hurts some that they cannot receive communion. What is needed in these cases is a good explanation of things. There are cases where this is complicated. It is a theological explanation that some priests can explain very well and the people understand.”

Abortion and a woman’s rights

“I place the battle against abortion in the battle in favor of life at conception. This includes the care of the mother during the pregnancy, the existence of laws that protect the woman post-partum, the need of assuring an adequate nourishment of the children, as well as offering health care throughout a life, to care for our grandparents and not to turn to euthanasia. If there is a conception to respect, there is a life to safeguard.”

Reporter: – Many say that the opposition to abortion is a religious question –

“Of course not… The pregnant woman does not carry a toothbrush in the womb or a tumor. Science teaches that the new being has all the genetic code at the moment of conception. It is impressive. It is not, therefore, a religious question, rather it is clearly a moral one with a scientific base, because we are in the presence of a human being.”

Sexual Education

“The Church is not opposed to sexual education. Personally, I believe that it should be available throughout the growth of the young people, adapted to each stage. Truly, the Church always imparted sexual education, although I accept that it was not always done in an adequate manner. What happens is that presently many of those who lift the flags of sexual education conceive it separate from the human person. Then, instead of having a law of sexual education for the fullness of the person, for love, it falls into a law for genitality. That is our objection. We do not want to degrade the human person. That is all.”

(The Jesuit. Conversations with Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, SJ., Sergio Rubin and Francesca Ambrogetti, Vergara editor)

Source: Tuparenda Magazine, May 2013. With permission of the editors.


Spanish/English Translation Celina M. Garza San Antonio, Texas, Carolina Aguirre, Oberá, Argentina

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