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Francis – the 266th Pope –
(Thank you to Bruvver Eccles and Chalcedon for correcting my Latin)
The Catholic church has a new pope: Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio from Buenos Aires in Argentina, , the first ever to come from South America, who has taken the name Francis.
He was announced to the crowd waiting in St Peter’s Square from the vast balcony that runs across the front of St Peter’s basilica. His first words:
‘You know that the duty of the conclave was to provide Rome with a bishop. It looks as if my brothers the cardinals went to fetch him from the end of the world!’
He is the first non European Pope in over a thousand years. Here is one of his pronouncements.
“We live in the most unequal part of the world, which has grown the most yet reduced misery the least,” he was quoted as saying by the National Catholic Reporter at 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.”
Francis said:
And a great saint whose name he has chosen!
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JessicaHof said:
Indeed – and let us all pray for him.
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NEO said:
Indeed, let us so do.
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Servus Fidelis said:
We aren’t sure yet if he took the name from St. Francis of Assisi or St. Francis Xavier at this point as he is a Jesuit. Either one is fine with me but I do prefer the former. Viva il Papa!!!
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JessicaHof said:
Yes, he seems to be a man if holiness and humility. Let us all pray for him.
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Servus Fidelis said:
I have and will continue to do so my dear friend. Seems to be of a humble nature and that will be quite refreshing in this age of huge egos.
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JessicaHof said:
So far, even our BBC is being nice about him 🙂 x
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Servus Fidelis said:
I’ll give them and the NY Times about a week before they publicly crucify him. 🙂
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JessicaHof said:
That long?? 🙂
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Servus Fidelis said:
I may have given them the benefit of doubt in my enthusiasm.
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JessicaHof said:
Well, I suppose we should try to be charitable 🙂 xx
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Servus Fidelis said:
Indeed we should. I might try to be a charitable to them for say . . . 24 hours if I can muster that. 🙂 xx
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JessicaHof said:
Yes, we can hold off until they start it first 🙂 xx
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Servus Fidelis said:
I suppose we can bite our tongues ’till then. 🙂
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JessicaHof said:
Yes – we can suspend hostilities until then.
I loved the way he asked the crowds to pray for him – and asked fir prayers for Benedict XVI.
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Servus Fidelis said:
I did as well. So far, I can’t hold his being a Jesuit against him; maybe he’ll be more like his order’s founder than most of the modern Jesuits we have become familiar with. His being made Pope might in itself help reform the order to the prestige it once had. We can only hope and pray that it will.
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JessicaHof said:
Yes, let us hope so. 🙂 xx
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Servus Fidelis said:
🙂 xx
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JessicaHof said:
Here’s an interesting comment on Pope Francis:
‘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.’
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Servus Fidelis said:
I read the same and is why I am very hopeful for the Pope, the Church and the Jesuits of the future. Nothing that I can find about his background seems to dampen my enthusiasm for the man.
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JessicaHof said:
I love the fact he takes the bus to work. 🙂 x
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Servus Fidelis said:
In as much as he is not a politician, I agree with you. I have seen too many politicians using such gestures as vote-getting methods; Biden and Dukakis come to mind in this country. I don’t think he does that for some ulterior motive as these politicians did however. 🙂
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JessicaHof said:
He seems, as you say, a genuine and humble man of God.
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Servus Fidelis said:
Precisely what many of us Catholics were praying for. Hopefully, God has fulfilled our prayers in his election today.
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JessicaHof said:
As C says, we should trust in the work of the Holy Spirit 🙂 x
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Servus Fidelis said:
Indeed we should. Funny thing was that last night, after dinner, a friend of mine (Steve who has commented on my site a few times) asked me what name would be good for the next Pope and I said “Francis. It has never been used before and it is about time it should.” So I feel elated at the Popes chosen name. As you know, I have a particular connection to Francis which has followed me through life. 🙂
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JessicaHof said:
Yes, my friend – such a coincidence – and a nice one 🙂 xx
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Servus Fidelis said:
Francis just keeps those coincidences coming in my life. I think I might owe him big time. 🙂
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JessicaHof said:
🙂 yes, indeed 🙂 xx
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Servus Fidelis said:
A novena to him 9 days before his feast day might be in order. 🙂 xx
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JessicaHof said:
I think that would be a great idea 🙂 x
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Servus Fidelis said:
I think I found a good one for the occasion already: http://bluepanjeet.net/2010/09/26/10934/novena-saint-francis-assisi-sept-26-oct-4/
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JessicaHof said:
Excellent 🙂 xx
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Servus Fidelis said:
🙂 xx
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JessicaHof said:
I seethe Vatican is saying his name is Pope Francis, with no numeral, as he is the first of that name.
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Servus Fidelis said:
Correct. If others take the name in the future he will be Francis I.
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JessicaHof said:
Well, I am sure others will want to follow 🙂 xx
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Servus Fidelis said:
I’m not too sure – in 793 years no one else has had an inclination to do so. This might be a one off occurrence.
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JessicaHof said:
Perhaps, but now someone has, others might 🙂
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Servus Fidelis said:
That would be nice. It is about time that Francis gets resurrected from the ash bin of history and remembered for his great humility and holiness.
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JessicaHof said:
Yes, that would be nice – and if he has the courage of St Francis Xavier, it would be good too 🙂 xx
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Servus Fidelis said:
And he did have that courage. He faced the Pope to establish the Franciscans, relied on God for his sustenance and faced down the Muslims in an effort to promote peace. Now that is courage and faith at work.
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JessicaHof said:
Yes – let us hope it is a good omen 🙂 x
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Servus Fidelis said:
I want to believe that it is exactly that. 🙂 xx
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JessicaHof said:
Me too 🙂 xx
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Servus Fidelis said:
Then let us rejoice and have a joyful Easter. 🙂
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JessicaHof said:
Yes , yes, it will be interesting to watch 🙂 xx
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Servus Fidelis said:
It will be indeed good friend. May the spring we are entering be a springtime for the Church as well. 🙂
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JessicaHof said:
🙂 xx
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Servus Fidelis said:
A parting thought. The Psalm St. Francis had his friars read to him at his death:
Psalm 140 (141)
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
140 I have cried to the, O Lord, hear me: hearken to my voice, when I cry to thee.
2 Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight; the lifting up of my hands, as evening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth: and a door round about my lips.
4 Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins. With men that work iniquity: and I will not communicate with the choicest of them.
5 The just shall correct me in mercy, and shall reprove me: but let not the oil of the sinner fatten my head. For my prayer also shall still be against the things with which they are well pleased:
6 their judges falling upon the rock have been swallowed up. They shall hear my words, for they have prevailed:
7 as when the thickness of the earth is broken up upon the ground: Our bones are scattered by the side of hell.
8 But o to thee, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in thee have I put my trust, take not away my soul.
9 Keep me from the snare, which they have laid for me, and from the stumblingblocks of them that work iniquity.
10 The wicked shall fall in his net: I am alone until I pass.
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JessicaHof said:
That is so beautiful 🙂 xx
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Servus Fidelis said:
And very fitting for this most holy of men. 🙂
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JessicaHof said:
🙂 xx
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bruvvereccles said:
Of course being a Jesuit he may have been finkin of St Francis Xavier as well.
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JessicaHof said:
He may well – he is the first Jesuit Pope, and everyone seems to think he’s a good choice.
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St Bosco said:
Jesuit? Uh Oh. Us protestants better look out.————————————–
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David B. Monier-Williams said:
“Francis rebuild my Church”
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Reclaiming the Sacred said:
Viva il Papa! 🙂
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JessicaHof said:
Everything I am reading makes him seem a really good choice 🙂 x
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Reclaiming the Sacred said:
I need to do some reading, but the name is a good one! My puppy’s name is Francesco – I was holding him when they made the announcement, and I looked at him and said, “Wow! Now you are named after St. Francis…and the Pope has your name too! Your a little Pope! Pope Puppy!” 🙂
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JessicaHof said:
Yay 🙂 xx
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Tom McEwen said:
Job: Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
The MSM will not know what to think or do with this man, cut him off at the knees now or crucify him later.
He sounds like a Hard case to me. I hope he is harder then diamonds and stronger then steel.
And he can swing a broom with the best of them.
To our Holy Father, Que vaya con Dios
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malcolmlxx said:
I’m impressed by the way in which he refers to himself as tte Bishop of Rome. It speaks volmes as to his vocation as a shepherd and Pastor of his flock. It was also heart warming when he asked his people to bless him. This is a Holy Father who will be the servant of the servants of God.
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JessicaHof said:
That is how it seems Malcolm – and how lovely if it is 🙂 x
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St Bosco said:
I understand his parents are from italy . So Malachy was right. Now, if brother Malcolm is right, that he calls himself bishop of rome, he is lining himself up with Peter, as catholic fable has Peter being the first bishop of rome. These are troublous times. Wars everywhere and rumors of more wars. The protestant world is chock full of millionaire televangelist wolfs , the catholic world is in nosedive being top heavy with vice, islam is ready to strike Israel, the bankers have taken everything and now are looking to reduce the worlds population. The major Western world govts have purchased tens of thousand guillotines. Can this go on? Malachy said this is the last pope.Good guess. The Lord is coming to take hid church from this tribulation as promised. The last pope addording to Maladhy, will lead his flock thru the tribulation and then the CC will be no more. Hes going to come up with a reason why he and his flock didnt get taken, even though official catholic doctrine says theres no rapture, after it happens, the flock will start to wonder what else isnt correct. Theres a protestant preacher(for lack of better word) that says the people taken will be taken by satan, Now theres one the people might believe.
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JessicaHof said:
Bosco – every Pope is the Bishop of Rome, so I am not sure what you mean here?
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malcolmlxx said:
Jessica, does Brother Bosco know what he means?
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JessicaHof said:
I hope he will tell us.
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