Posted on 03/13/2013 3:50:45 PM PDT by NYer
Church, say hello to the new Boss.
For the cardinal-electors to have gone out of Europe for the first time in over a millennium, to have gone to a Jesuit for the first time ever, and to have gone to the runner-up at the last Conclave in all of five ballots – with more than half the electorate changed over since last time – is not merely decisive....
Indeed, it's epic.
And make no mistake about it – this is a mandate.
To no small degree, having come close to facing the "guillotine" last time, Jorge Mario Bergoglio has had almost eight years to prepare for this. Yet even beyond the first notes he struck as Pope Francis I, a Page Three note in the moment seemed to sum up the ecclesial significance best....
This ain't Francis I so much as John Paul ITo be sure, that was down to the vesture – the simple white cassock, shirking the ermine mozzetta that was supposed to be worn with it.
— Rocco Palmo (@roccopalmo) March 13, 2013
O God, who in your providential design
willed that your Church be built
upon blessed Peter, whom you set over the other apostles,
look with favor, we pray, on Francis, our Pope,
and grant that he, whom you have made Peter’s successor,
may be for your people a visible source and foundation
of unity in faith and of communion.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Actually, not everyone has been attacking him by pointing out his faithfulness.
I think he is putting too much emphasis on the poor (although we will see if he keeps this up in the coming months and years), and I think he is being very imprudent and taking unnecessary security risk like riding the bus instead of a bulletproof car, and worse yet, going into St. Peter’s square on foot.
If you ask me, this is asking for trouble, especially if he makes this a regular habit. He is not respecting his own life enough.
NYer gave me a quote a few days ago from Pope Benedict on the role of the Holy Spirit in Papal elections.
I am paraphrasing here, but basically Pope Benedict thinks that the wrong person CAN be chosen because the Cardinal electors can discern wrongly, or even ignore the Holy Spirit. I gave NYer the example of Alexander VI, who almost certainly bought his election by simony, and then became a murderer as Pope (and had many mistresses too, and was exeedingly greedy, and so on).
To say that he was the one choosen by the Holy Spirit seems extremely unlikely to me. Most likely he was chosen with bribery, a most unholy spirit.
But the Pope Benedict believes that even in these worst case scenarios, the Pope will never lead the Church into heresy, because the Holy Spirit will either prevent that Cardinal’s election (or will change his heart on that matter), although he can do just about any personal sin, as history has proven.
Your comment seems to contradict his actions. Please provide some justification for your misgivings. Thank you.
Great observation.. I am also surprised this our first Pope Francis after Assisi... a wonderful Saint of the Church. So many have taken the name of Francis in honor of Assisi during confirmation... nice to finally have a Pope that does the same.
Actually he has taken Francis of Assisi as his inspiration.
Hitting my ‘like’ button for your questions...I too would like to know!
Perhaps he is leaving that up to God.
Is this because, in their view, Jesus is not God?
Or because, in their view, Mary is not Jesus' mother?
I think he is too nice of a person to be elected Pope. We need a tough, bossy person who will impose their will on others, especially dissadent priests and religious. A Thomas Becket sort of personality. Someone who will not be afraid to excommunicate, early and often (and I mean have the ceremony televised in HD, not the automatic excommunication which few people know about). Someone who will overturn the tables of the moneychangers in the temple.
How many sould are being lost because previous Popes have been afraid to confront people below them? They are the boss! And it is not a sin to be forceful and angry!
Anyway, we will agree to disagree.
By "nice", I presume you are referring to his openness and desire to greet people. It is perhaps this quality that makes him tough. When one recognizes God's creation with love, it strengthens the individual to ensure they are protected.
Someone who will not be afraid to excommunicate, early and often (and I mean have the ceremony televised in HD, not the automatic excommunication which few people know about).
Based on that description, it seems you have been misinformed about excommunication. I will post a separate thread on this topic and ping you to it.
How many sould are being lost because previous Popes have been afraid to confront people below them?
I appreciate and share your perspective. But here again, a table flipping pope will only outrage many catholics and non-catholics as well. Such actions are a sign of frustration, not love. I posted several other threads that you may have missed. Perhaps these will give you a clearer insight into where the pope stands and how he handled matters in the past.
Liberals will soon turn on Pope Francis
Quotes from Cardinal Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, on 7 Moral Issues
You do understand that you are also obligated to identify dissidents to those in higher authority. Once you have been confirmed in the Catholic faith, you assume armor for the battle. You can't wait for others to act; sometimes, you have to initiate the process. I have done this several times and found the information at the following web site to be of assistance in the process.
NYer,
Thank you for the information in this post.
"My child, know that the greatest obstacles to holiness are discouragement and an exaggerated anxiety...sensitiveness and discouragement are the fruits of self-love."
Pray for our new Holy Father; he is praying for you!
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