Julie Schwietert Collazo - Pope Francis in His Own Words

Copyright 2013 by Julie Schwietert Collazo and Lisa Rogak All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, or other without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Text design by Tona Pearce Myers Quotations from Spanish-language sources translated by Julie Schwietert Collazo and Francisco Collazo Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available. First printing, May 2013 ISBN 978-1-60868-248-5
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The newly elected Pope Francis, speaking to his limo driver and security detail after his initial introduction to crowds in Rome W ith the election of Argentinas Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new pope of the Catholic Church in March 2013, attention has turned worldwide toward not only what he will do as pope but how he has lived and preached in the past. So far, its very clear that, compared to other popes, he has led a humble and unconventional life. For instance, as a cardinal, instead of asking to be addressed as Your Eminence, he preferred to simply be called Father Jorge. Some of the first photos to be published after he was introduced to happy throngs of worshippers in St. Peters Square reveal that humility and the desire to serve the poor run deep in his blood. One photo showed him kneeling to wash a womans feet, while news reports told of his performing the same service for AIDS patients.

Its hard to imagine his predecessor at the Vatican doing likewise. Its clear that his humility and desire to meet with the people on their level whether theyre Catholics or not has already won him huge numbers of fans. He cracks jokes, doesnt hesitate to challenge his countrys leaders on their inequities, and pushes away chauffeurs and luxury transport in order to press the flesh with commoners. And numerous news stories have shown that he offers great compassion toward those who have long been ostracized by churches of all stripes. At the same time, he shows that hes a real person, with human desires that he indulges wholeheartedly (well, at least a few ). After all, when was the last time you heard of a pope who admitted to loving tango and who had pledged his undying loyalty to one Buenos Aires soccer club since childhood? He also walks his talk, which instantly won him respect and admiration around the world.

During his tenure as a cardinal in Buenos Aires, Bergoglio refused to live in the luxury accommodations in the palace that previous cardinals called home. Instead, he rented a spartan one-bedroom apartment where he cooked his own simple dinners, took the bus to work, and persuaded the diocese to allow a group of poor missionaries to live in the official residence. The Catholic Church essentially crossed three first-evers off the list in mid-March 2013 when the Conclave chose Jorge Mario Bergoglio to be the new pontiff. First of all, he is the first Jesuit ever elected to the office. The Jesuit order has a reputation as one of the most rebellious in Catholicism often standing in direct conflict with traditional Church doctrine while also being known for its intellectual rigor. Second, he is the first pope to come from the Americas, and more specifically, the first to come from Latin America, the region that holds the largest percentage of the worldwide Catholic population, at almost 40 percent.

Third, he is the first pontiff to select the name Francis, in homage to St. Francis of Assisi, an Italian who devoted his life to the poor and formed the religious order of the Franciscans. To Catholics, accustomed to the stern, authoritarian approach of Pope Benedict XVI, the Conclaves election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio is heartwarming and joyous, harkening back to the more personable days of Pope John Paul II. And since the Pope is essentially a world leader, on the same footing with presidents and premiers, theres no doubt that other world leaders are already lining up for an audience with him. In just a short time, Pope Francis has made an indelible impact on Catholics, making them feel optimistic about their faith and, in turn, their lives. Pope Francis in His Own Words will allow readers to do just that, with his views and thoughts condensed into neatly concise, bite-sized bits so everyone Catholic or not can immediately learn more about Father Jorge. , is the seat of wisdom. , is the seat of wisdom.

The old ones have the wisdom that they have earned from walking through life, like old Simeon and Anna at the temple, whose wisdom allowed them to recognize Jesus. Let us give with wisdom to the youth: like good wine that improves with age, let us give the youth the wisdom of our lives. Address to Cardinals, 15 March 2013 of history, he who brings us memories, the memory of our people, of our country, of our family, culture, and religion .He has lived a long time, and even if hes done so as a fool, he deserves serious consideration. Sobre el Cielo y la Tierra, 2010 is worse than any other because it is without return. Sobre el Cielo y la Tierra, 2010 that Argentinians dont want to dialogue? I wouldnt put it that way. Sobre el Cielo y la Tierra, 2010 has all too often courted silence. Sobre el Cielo y la Tierra, 2010 has all too often courted silence.

The use of euphemisms has often anesthetized us. Homily, Easter 2008 from its painful experiences of the past and initiate a new path, or to drown in misery, chaos, the loss of values, and decomposition as a society. Annual Message to Educational Communities, Easter 2002 still: we Argentinians have a long history of mutual intolerance. Homily, Easter 2005 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.