Pope Francis (Pastor of Mercy)

by Michael J. Ruszala

  Construction on the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral where Cardinal Bergoglio had presided began in the late 16th century, but many significant structural repairs and renovations through the centuries brought it to its current eclectic, but glorious form. Twelve pillars representing the twelve Apostles form a long and tall portico that supports its ornate neoclassical façade. An 18th century dome rises over the massive main altarpiece. The pulpit stands to the side. Cardinal Bergoglio spoke out from that pulpit against many social evils of the city and nation, such as human trafficking and prostitution. He also preached against serious economic inequalities, which grew after the 2001 financial crisis. Fiery preaching from the pulpit in the Metropolitan Cathedral was the Cardinal’s preferred method of communicating the spoken word to his archdiocese and the nation. He accepted very few interviews.

  Cardinal Bergoglio grew to both national and international prominence among the bishops. In 2001, he was designated the rector of the 10th Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome because the terrorist attacks of September 11 prevented Cardinal Egan of New York from coming to Rome. This opportunity increased his level of exposure among the cardinals and bishops. Next, Cardinal Bergoglio attended the 2005 papal conclave, which followed the death of Pope John Paul II. Cardinal Ratzinger was then elected and became Pope Benedict XVI, and, while the proceedings of a conclave remain a secret, it is widely believed that Cardinal Bergoglio received the second largest number of votes. He returned to Rome in October 2005, to participate in the 11th Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

  Then in November 2005, he was elected president of the Argentine bishops’ conference, and was re-elected to another term in 2008. Cardinal Bergoglio used his role as president to organize his fellow bishops against Kirchners’ policies that violated Catholic social teaching. In 2007, Cardinal Bergoglio oversaw the writing of the document released by the General Conference of the Latin American and Caribbean Bishops Conferences, which provided a united pastoral vision for the region. In this role, he was able to bring about a ‘culture of cooperation’ among the bishops, a skill he would soon need like never before.

  A Window to the Soul

  Though Bergoglio does not accept many interviews, he has shared enough to give us a glimpse into his personal life and values. When asked, “How would you introduce yourself to a group of people who have no idea who you are?” Cardinal Bergoglio gave a joyful and humble response, “I am Jorge Bergoglio, priest. I like being a priest” (from Ch. 12 of Conversations with Jorge Bergoglio). When asked by Father Spadaro years later, in light of the world seeking increased understanding of the new Roman Pontiff, “Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?” Pope Francis responded, “I am a sinner. This is the most accurate definition. It is not a figure of speech, a literary genre. I am a sinner.”

  The word ‘mercy’ encapsulates both his pontificate and his vocation. His favorite painting is the White Crucifixion by 20th century French artist Marc Chagall, a Jew. In the painting, Chagall depicts, in the surrealist style, many disturbing and confusing symbols of atrocities committed against the Jewish people. The focal point, and the only point of solace and peace in the painting, is the face of the crucified Jesus in the center with his eyes closed, wearing a Jewish prayer shawl in place of a loincloth. The image of Jesus is resigned and does not give into torment, while also depicting his mercy on the wrongs around him. It is reminiscent of Pope Francis' Latin motto, miserando atque eligendo. The Pope tells Father Spadaro, “I think the Latin gerund miserando is impossible to translate in both Italian and Spanish. I like to translate it with another gerund that does not exist: misericordiando [‘mercy-ing’].” Perhaps, we could translate the motto as “‘mercy-ing’ and choosing.”

  One of Bergoglio’s favorite works of literature is the classic 19th century Italian novel, “I Promessi Sposi”, translated as “The Betrothed”. Pope Francis tells Father Spadaro, “I have read The Betrothed, by Alessandro Manzoni, three times, and I have it now on my table because I want to read it again. Manzoni gave me so much. When I was a child, my grandmother taught me by heart the beginning of The Betrothed: ‘That branch of Lake Como that turns off to the south between two unbroken chains of mountains....’” The novel is set in 17th century Italy in a time when the people were burdened both by draconian oppressors and widespread panic and loss due to the Black Death whose torments neither spared the rich nor poor, the oppressor nor the oppressed.

  The violent and worldly power of Don Rodrigo, greatly feared by all, is contrasted with the mysterious and spiritual power of the one man who has no fear of him, the humble and saintly Father Christoforo. Father Christoforo carries no weapon and holds no high office. The Capuchin friar, not afraid of death by powerful men or by a terrible disease, is seen dressed in a humble habit, standing up to fearsome oppressors for the people, and tending to the victims of plague in their moment of death. He is the most powerful man in the novel, and surely an inspiration to Bergoglio.

  Pope Francis often speaks of goodness, truth, and beauty, aspects of all things that reflect the Creator, as an experience that unifies believers and non-believers. He told journalists who came out to meet the newly-elected Pope on March 16, 2013, “This is something we have in common, since the Church exists to communicate precisely this: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty ‘in person.’” Pope Francis has a great appreciation for musical beauty, something that his mother instilled in him when she would gather the children around the radio on Sunday afternoons. He shared with Father Spadaro some of his musical favorites, “Among musicians I love Mozart, of course. The ‘Et incarnatus est’ from his Mass in C minor is matchless; it lifts you to God! I love Mozart performed by Clara Haskil. Mozart fulfills me.... And then Bach’s Passions. The piece by Bach that I love so much is the ‘Erbarme Dich,’ the tears of Peter in the ‘St. Matthew Passion.’ Sublime.” He shared, in fact, that he mostly uses the radio to listen to classical music.

  Bergoglio is also very much a porteño, a native of Buenos Aires, in his interests. In fact, he shares in the book, “Conversations with Jorge Bergoglio”, that Buenos Aires is his favorite place in the world. He enjoys tango, saying, “It’s something that comes from within.” Bergoglio enjoys maté, a hot tea popular in Argentina made from the evergreen leaves of the yerba maté. It is prepared and drunk from a calabash gourd with a metal straw, called a bombilla, which has a mouthpiece at one end and a sieve at the other. The gourd is filled with dried, crushed leaves, and hot water is added, making for a distinct herb-like flavor. One well-circulated image of the newly elected Pope Francis was one of him sharing maté with President Christina de Kirschner, who, despite their differences, had come to Rome to congratulate him. He was also known for sharing maté in the homes of the poor in the slums of Buenos Aires.

  Joining as a boy, Pope Francis also continues to pay dues as a member of the San Lorenzo Soccer Club in Buenos Aires, and was recently presented in Rome by members with one of their red and blue jerseys. Members of the club, who support the professional San Lorenzo de Almagro team, are known as the Cuervos or Crows, named after the black worn by their founder, Father Lorenzo Massa, who started the fútbol club to keep boys active and out of trouble.

  When it comes to languages, besides Spanish, Bergoglio knows Italian, Portuguese, German, French, Piedmontese, Genoese, and English. While perfectly comfortable in Italian, he finds English the most difficult because of the pronunciation. His understanding of Piedmontese and Genoese, and hence his facility with Italian, are from hearing his older family members converse in these dialects when he was a boy. His fluency in German comes from his days of study in Germany.

  Bergoglio has a devotion to St. Thérèse of Lisieux. The 19th century French saint, who also inspired Mother Teresa, is known for her ‘Little Way’ of small deeds with great love and for her ‘Shower of Roses’ as a sign of answered prayer. Pope Francis shares in Ch. 12 in the book “Conversations with Jorge Bergoglio” the following: “Whenever I have a problem, I ask the saint not to resolve
it, but to take it in her hands and help me accept it, and, as a sign, I almost always receive a white rose.” Bergoglio has had good experiences of sharing devotions among the people, especially in Argentina, because they become engrained in the culture and keep the people close to God.

  Bergoglio has a heart for those of other rites and faiths. Known to greatly appreciate the beauty and spirit of the Eastern rite liturgies and prayers in the Catholic Church, he was appointed ordinary of Eastern rite Catholics in Argentina that were lacking an ordinary while also serving as archbishop of Buenos Aires.

  Cardinal Bergoglio became good friends with Rabbi Abraham Skorka and they published a book together recording their dialogue on religious topics, titled “On Heaven and Earth”. Skorka recalls, “Inter-religious dialogue, which acquired special significance after the Second Vatican Council, usually begins with a stage of ‘tea and sympathy’ before moving on to the trickier subjects. With Bergoglio, there was no such stage. Our conversation began with an exchange of terrible jokes about each other’s favored soccer teams and went immediately to the candor of sincere and respectful dialogue. Each of us expressed to the other his particular vision about the many subjects that shape life. There were no calculations or euphemisms, just clear and direct ideas. One opened his heart to the other, just as the Midrash [the traditional commentary on Scripture by the rabbis] defines true friendship.”

  In their dialogue, the two religious leaders would alternate in discussing their views and values on a given subject, such as society, culture, morality, God, and religion. One would agree with much of what has been said and then contribute his values, perspectives, and experiences. Even in instances where Bergoglio, as a Catholic archbishop, likely disagreed with Skorka, he typically held back from critiquing him unless there was a misunderstanding that had to be cleared. This represents the style of the dialogue and of their friendship; this experience also sheds light on Pope Francis' approach to many situations.

  For Bergoglio, dialogue is the way to harmony and solidarity by recognizing commonality in others and acknowledging differences respectfully. Genuine dialogue, according to Bergoglio, is what is very much lacking in the political climate in Argentina. He shares in “Conversations with Jorge Bergoglio” that people must recognize “that the other person has much to give me, that I have to be open to that person and listen, without judgment, without thinking that because his ideas are different from mine, or because he is an atheist, he can’t offer me anything. That is not so. Everyone has something to offer, and everyone can receive something.” Further, according to Bergoglio, “Real growth in mankind’s conscience can only be founded on dialogue and love. Dialogue and love mean recognizing the differences of others, accepting diversity. Only then can we call it a true community: by not attempting to subject others to my criteria and priorities, by not ‘absorbing’ others, but by recognizing them as valuable for what they are....”

  Bergoglio’s approach to dialogue is not grounded in relativism; he is a firm believer in truth with an open heart to love those who may be different. Likewise, Bergoglio’s openness to all and his emphasis on commonality do not come from a naiveté of the world’s problems or of the Church. Instead, his approach is one of mercy, a type of mercy that presupposes the existence of sin and division among us. As a Church leader, his approach has been like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, standing in the road with open arms, welcoming home his son without any questions.

  The Papacy and Resignation of Benedict XVI

  On April 2, 2005, at the age of 84, a weary and infirm Pope John Paul II went to his eternal reward after a very full 26-year pontificate. Slated now by Pope Francis to be declared a saint on Divine Mercy Sunday of 2014, the man sometimes called ‘John Paul the Great’ was known for his prolific papal writings, the profundity of his teachings, attracting large crowds on his trips around the world, his closeness with the youth, and his many canonizations of saints. In the conclave that followed, while the cardinals are sworn to secrecy about the proceedings, it is generally believed that Cardinal Bergoglio received the second largest number of votes.

  Cardinal Bergoglio was very different in style and emphasis from Pope John Paul II, and his election at that time may have indicated a shift away from him. Vatican expert, Vittorio Messori, makes an educated speculation based on comments from cardinals that, for this reason, both Cardinal Bergoglio and the other cardinals decided upon Cardinal Ratzinger, a close advisor of Pope John Paul II and his prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (as recalled in the introduction to Conversations with Jorge Bergoglio).

  Cardinal Ratzinger, who was already recognized as one of the greatest theologians of the 20th century, became Pope Benedict XVI at the age of 78. He emerged from the loggia of St. Peter’s on April 19, 2005, with arms outstretched in the style of his predecessor, greeting the crowds with these words: “Dear Brothers and Sisters: After the great Pope John Paul II, the Lord Cardinals have elected me, a simple and humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord.” A native of Germany, he took the name ‘Benedict’ with a view to revitalizing the faith and culture of Europe. The name is reminiscent of Pope Benedict XV, who led the Church during the turbulence of World War I, and St. Benedict of Nursia, known as a spiritual father and patron of Europe.

  The former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had developed a reputation for being a disciplinarian because many errors had to be corrected under his tenure. Pope Benedict XVI, however, emerged as a warm, fatherly, and reconciliatory world religious leader, though still viewed with suspicion by the secular media and some progressive theologians. Pope Benedict XVI had lived and breathed the culture of the Vatican for many years and restored some of the older traditional trappings of the papacy, traditions that emphasized dignity and distinction from modern society. He issued three encyclical letters, simple and foundational in their scope, yet amazingly deep and penetrating. He established a place for the pre-Vatican II liturgy along side the current liturgy so that priests could celebrate at will. He insisted unswervingly in teaching the full doctrine of the faith, instructing the faithful to practice charity in truth.

  Pope Benedict XVI’s final encyclical, Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth), reaffirmed and promoted Catholic social teaching, emphasizing the Church’s preferential option for the poor, concern for the environment, and decrying extreme inequalities throughout the world.

  Before becoming pope, Cardinal Ratzinger had submitted his resignation as prefect to Pope John Paul II, hoping to spend his retirement in writing and studying. The Holy Father refused to accept his resignation. As the Pope continued his own work, despite his deteriorating physical condition, choosing to be a model of redemptive suffering, the prefect resigned himself to continue in his service as well, at least until the death of Pope John Paul II. Then he was made pope and had to endure many hardships in the years ahead. The sex abuse scandals continued to boil over in the West, and some even accused Pope Benedict of complacency with the issue when he was a bishop.

  A quote from the Crusades period from his insightful Regensburg address, which focused primarily on the unity of faith and reason, was taken out of context and broadcast by the media, angering Muslims around the world. Also, some suspected corruption at the Vatican Bank. Corruption was also rampant within the Curia of the Vatican, as highlighted by the ‘Vatileaks’ scandal in 2012 in which the Pope’s butler stole confidential documents of the Vatican City State that revealed misdeeds and cronyism within the Vatican. The documents were leaked to a journalist that later published them in a book. Meanwhile, the Holy Father, who later revealed that he had a pacemaker for his heart condition, was continuing to grow old and felt he lacked the ability to keep up with the obligations of the modern papacy.

  In April 2009, Pope Benedict XVI visited the tomb in Aquila, Italy, of hermit and monk Pope St. Celestine V, who resigned the papacy in 1296 after only a few months, after realizing he was suited more for monastic life than t
he task ahead. St. Celestine had provided the Church legislation for the resignation of a pope prior to his departure. A pope’s resignation must be done in complete freedom, deliberately, and in such a way that his resolve is publicly known. However, St. Celestine ended his days as a prisoner of his successor that feared that he might return. He would repeat to himself, referring to a monk’s cell, “You wanted a cell, Peter, and a cell you have.” In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI revealed to Peter Seewald in his book-length interview, “Light of the World”, that he believed that it is sometimes the duty of a pope to resign. He also revealed that he believed that the work he is meant to do as pope has already been accomplished.

  Several major newspapers reported that the Pope Emeritus explained that he was given a mystical experience in which God gave him a strong and sustained desire to pursue a life of prayer, renouncing his office. Father Lombardi, the Vatican press secretary, told journalists that it was ultimately during the Holy Father’s trip to Cuba in March 2012, that he realized his limitations due to his age and Pope Benedict definitively, but secretly, resolved that he would resign. Soon the Holy Father was transported around St. Peter’s on a motorized platform that Pope John Paul II had once used towards his last days.