I could not hold back my joy, and so did hundreds of millions of
Catholics and non-Catholics across the globe, when the Senior Cardinal
Deacon, Jean-Louis Tauran, led by two cardinal vicars appeared at the
balcony of the Sisten Chapel to proclaim: “Habemus Papam (We have a
Pope)!” and the bells of the Sisten Chapel rang continuously. It was a
sight to behold as the new Pope – Francis (of Assisi) – was led out to
the loggia (central balcony) to give his first Apostolic Blessing, Urbi
et orbi.
I watched with breathless attention as the story unveiled before my
very eyes. I had waited for this moment for close to two weeks after
the official resignation of Benedict XVI. What I witnessed in the
emergence of Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergogolio of Argentina)
was quite different from what transpired at the election of Blessed
Pope John Paul II in 1978. I can confidently state that no election of
any Pope (at least in recent history) had attracted as much publicity
and global curiosity as did the election of Pope Francis. From the last
count, there were about 6,000 journalists, 300,000 expectant crowds and
equipment worth over 80 billion dollars – all jammed into the St.
Peter’s Square as the waiting for the announcement of a new pope lasted.
In fact, the media had a field-day speculating who would eventually
emerge as the successor to resigned (or retired?) Pope Emeritus
Benedict XVI. As I rightly pointed out in the two-part series I did on
“Pope Benedict’s resignation and future of the Church”, the result of
the conclave shocked many forecasters and other categories of
bookmakers. I also stated in that series that the events at the 1978
conclave and afterwards favoured the emergence of a European as Pope.
But there was a caveat anyhow: there could be a shocker. And there
was a shocker. I had hinged my postulation on the fact that no
non-European had been Pope, at least, for over 1200 years. Nevertheless,
the name of the new pope was among those I listed in the two-part
series as likely winners.
Contrary to the popularly speculated names, Jorge Mario Cardinal
Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, clinched the coveted post of
Pontiff to lead the 1.2 billion Catholics scattered across the world.
Though his name was not widely mentioned as a possible winner, there was
however insider-information that he was the runner-up to Blessed Pope
John Paul II in the conclave of 1978. That somehow attracted some
attention, making one of the journalists covering the conclave mention
his name as a possible pope.
One source revealed that the frontrunner at the recent conclave,
Angelo Cardinal Sodano (Archbishop of Milan and Dean of College of
Cardinals) lost out because of the intrigues that played out between him
and Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone (the Chamberlin – he led the church at
the period of sede vacante). Both men tested their strength at the
conclave, which resulted in the emergence of Bergoglio, who was
perceived by many of the Cardinal electors as a suitable person for the
office, as the eventual winner. Again, Latin American Cardinals decided
to throw their weight behind one of their own by voting en masse for
him. Ordinarily, Sodano would have picked the ticket, if not for the
intrigues that prevailed at the conclave.
Going by clips gleaned from the conclave, many of the Cardinals had
made up their minds on the kind of Pope they expected to emerge from
the conclave. In fact, the plan to move the leadership of the church
from Europe to another part of the world, particularly Latin America,
commenced at the pre-conclave sessions, when the cardinals had the
opportunity to interact among themselves on how best to reform the
church beset with sex and financial scandals.
Even the Cardinals from Africa, Oceania and Asia consensually
favoured the emergence of a new pope from any other part of the world,
not Europe. Again, it was almost certain long before the conclave began
that the church in order to make the desired impact on a rapidly
changing world would need somebody with rich pastoral experience, deep
religiosity, uncanny disposition for deep-rooted reforms, and who is
non-controversial and untainted. As a Vatican commentator aptly
described it: “The church does not need a pope with a baggage of
scandals.”
Bergoglio, according to an insider who knows him very well,
travelled to Rome just like every other Cardinal to elect a new pope,
without any inclining that he would eventually emerge as the favoured
candidate. This was manifest in his mien as he addressed the faithful
assembled at the St. Peter Square before he dished out his first
Apostolic Blessing.
A psychologist and an expert in reading facial expressions and body
language, Paul Piff of the University of California at Berkeley,
captured it succinctly and precisely thus: “Visibly tentative and
uncomfortable with the position he’s been put in, maybe even burdened.
His posture is somewhat differential, the tightening of his lips, and
chin down, a little submissive… his breathing is also visible… perhaps a
result of nervousness or at least feeling overwhelmed. When he
continued to speak, he raised his eyebrows – a signal of sympathy,
interest and compassion.”
I doubt if any person else could have described it better than
Piff. Piff in those few words succeeded in portraying the personality of
the new pontiff. For me, I saw ‘fear’ or excitement written all over
his face as he spoke. But who wouldn’t be overwhelmed? After all, Pope
Sixtus explained in 1558 that the holder of the key of all this power
may share the huge mass of business and responsibilities …. And by God’s
helping grace avoid breaking under the strain.
The burden placed on the shoulders on Pope Francis is such that it
is only the grace of God that would make him succeed. He ascended the
throne of Peter at the most critical time in the life of the church. The
resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the ethical and sex scandals
rocking the church make his election crucial.
How he is going to handle these delicate issues without torpedoing
the ship remains to be seen. And this is where the wisdom in his choice
comes to play. It would have been suicidal if the cardinal-electors had
underplayed these crucial matters in the election of the new pope. The
choice of a wrong candidate would have sounded the death-knell for the
church that is already asphyxiating under the weight of self-inflicted
burden.
Pope Francis brings into the job his age-long humility,
kind-heartedness, resoluteness, incorruptibility, experience, agility of
mind, and holiness. His special regard for Mother Mary coupled with his
Jesuit background makes him the best choice for the job at this time.
Back home in Argentina (Buenos Aires) where he lived all his life
studying, working and pasturing the flocks of God, Bergoglio showed
early signs of leadership – even to the highest point as is the case
now. Everybody that had spoken about him since his election as Pope had
used kind words to describe his apostolate, especially as the prelate of
the largest archdiocese in the whole of Argentina.
According to those who worked closely with him in Buenos Aires,
Pope Francis lived in a modest house, jumped on buses to work and cooked
his meals. They also claimed that he had a zero tolerance for
corruption and sleaziness. I wonder how many archbishops (even priests)
would shun their palaces, limousines and chefs to live like an ordinary
person. It is very rare, as far as my memory can carry me.
Nonetheless, the lifestyle of Pope France is what should be the
standard for every person called to the office of priesthood or
religious life. Did our Lord Jesus Christ not lead such a modest
lifestyle? He did, even beyond human description. There is no doubt that
the corruption of body and soul among the ordained today results from
pandering to ostentation and revelry. Cardinal Bergoglio knew from time
what he actually wanted. Even the removal of one of his lungs some 40
years ago did not slow him down in discharging his pastoral duties and
assisting the poor and needy and unjustly-persecuted in Argentina.
The foretaste of the kind of papacy he would want to run became
clearer the moment he showed up to give his first papal blessing.
Instead of adorning the gold cross his predecessor wore at his own time
he chose a wooden cross he wore way back in Argentina as an archbishop.
Again, before he blessed the people at the Basilica, he first of
all asked them to pray for him. Following this was his choice to begin
his first full day as pope with our Mother Mary with a visit to the St.
Mary Major Church, where he delivered a bouquet of flowers at the feet
of the image of Santa Maria Salus Populi Romani (Protectress of the
Roman people) also known as Virgin of Snow. He prayed for 10 minutes
there before leaving quietly to go and pick his belongings at the guest
house where he and other cardinals were quartered before going into the
conclave.
Pope Francis has had a very hectic schedule since he was elected
pope. Two days after his election he held a mass for the cardinals at
which he advocated a new attitude to their role in strengthening the
church to discharge its divine duty of winning souls for Christ. He also
admonished them to work collaboratively in love to make Christ known to
the whole of mankind.
The next day, Saturday, March 16, he held an audience with the
media. He used the occasion to outline his vision and mission. On
Sunday, March 17, he gave his first Angelus blessing to hundreds of
thousands that gathered at St. Peter’s Square. He broke protocol by
stepping down from the altar after mass and walking to the gate of the
Vatican to greet the faithful.
They could not hold back their excitement and joy. The highlight of
the week-long activity came when he was formally inaugurated on
Tuesday. The event was attended by dignitaries from all over the world,
including the United States Vice President, Senator Joe Biden (a
Catholic) – who represented President Barack Obama.
It is important to comment on activities that led to the election
of Pope Francis and what role some key persons played in his emergence.
Cardinal James M. Harvey (from the U.S.) led the cardinals as they
processed into the Sisten Chapel for the commencement of the conclave
chanting the Litany of the Saints in Latin. While inside the Sisten
Chapel and before the conclave started in earnest, Cardinal Giovanni
Battista Re (a top-ranking cardinal-elector) led the others in prayer
for a successful conclave.
The admonition was given by 90-year-old Cardinal Grech (an
Augustinian priest and expert on the Fathers of the Church) from Malta
who the cardinals unanimously requested to stay back and speak to them
to put them in the right frame of mind for the conclave. He spoke on
“Problems facing the church” and “The need for careful discernment in
choosing the new pope”.
Before the doors of the Sisten chapel was closed the Master of
papal liturgical ceremonies, Msgr. Guido Marini, exclaimed the usual:
“extra omnes” – ordering those who had no business with the conclave to
leave immediately.
A total of 115 cardinals participated in the conclave with 48 of
them involved in the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI, while
the other 67 (including Okojie and Onaiyekan of Nigeria) were new
electors.
Francis is already building a reputation for himself as the casual
pontiff. He eschews the trappings of his exalted office and foregoes the
use of the red papal cape in public, preferring instead to mingle
freely with the people. During his meeting with the cardinals he also
interacted freely with them, instead of sitting on the papal throne to
receive them. He even rode with them in a bus back to their quarters
after the conclave.
To some observers, his charm and humility could be likened to that
of the Blessed John Paul II whose papacy and global image elevated the
Catholic Church to a great height. There is fear, though, among some
persons that the causality of Francis may not last, considering the
inner politics at the Vatican. Those who hold this view believe that the
powerful clique at the Vatican might end up influencing the pope to
drop his conservative and unusual approach to the discharge of his
official assignments.
They also believe that his security details will spend the next few
days trying to persuade him to submit to their arrangements to
forestall any breach that might lead to dire consequences. They would go
a step further by reminding him of the attempt on the life of Pope John
Paul II.
But I do not think there should be cause for worry. The pope is
aware of all these fears and will take appropriate steps to deal with
them. The first thing I think he will do in a few days from now is to
make critical appointments in the Roman Curia that runs the Church. The
major focus of the changes that are to come is the office of Secretary
of State. The practice currently is while the Pope rules the Secretary
of State governs.
Pope Francis’s simple and people-oriented style is already
attracting support from among his cardinals, priests and the lay people.
Top among the supporters are the Archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan,
and Donald Wuerl of Washington. Both participated in the conclave that
elected Pope Francis.
Cardinal Dolan is particularly intrigued by Pope Francis’s
simplicity and determination to do things differently. Fr. Thomas
Smolich (President of the Jesuit Conference of the United States has a
different impression. Hear him: “I’m in shock that we have a Jesuit
Pope. This is just not our mind-set. We don’t look for these kinds of
offices.”
This is the first time the Jesuits (The Society of Jesus) religious
order is producing a pope and the first non-European pope in 1,282
years. From available records, the Benedictine (The Order of St.
Benedict) has produced 17 popes, Augustinians (Order of St. Augustine)
6, Dominicans (Order of Preachers) 4, and Cistercians (Order of
Cistercians) 2.
Whichever way anybody chooses to look at his election as Pope, one
incontrovertible fact remains that the Catholic Church is in a new era
of self-rediscovery and purgation, which it badly needs if it is to
survive the impending cataclysm that is about to hit the world.
Oh, my God, I wonder what the reception will look like as the pope
travels to Rio de Janeiro in July to attend the World Youth Summit. It
is simply going to be a homecoming for a homeboy.
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