We Have A Pope!

The following is a reprint (slightly edited) of a reflection I recently e-mailed to my "Family & Friends".

As I say "Adieu" to our retired Pope Emeritus Benedict, I am happy and optimistic with the choice of our new pope, Pope Francis I, though the name is strange when hearing it in French as they have been referring to him as "Francois Premier" (Ier).  Francis Ier was a rather free spirited French king who ushered in the Renaissance in France.  His life was quite different from Saint Francis of Assisi.

The new pope chose the name Francis after Saint Francis of Assisi.  This may seem strange for a pope of the Jesuit Order (more correctly the Order of the Society of Jesus).  He did explain to the international press core on Saturday, March 16th the reasons he chose Saint Francis, i.e., Saint Francis' love of poverty and the poor, his love of nature and the current condition of our environment and mission of peace.  What some may not know is that there are at least two Jesuits who are canonized saints named Francis, Saints Francis Xavier and Francis Borgia.  Both of these men are extraordinary saints.  Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552) following the leadership of Saint Ignatius of Loyola along with four other men founded the Order of the Society of Jesus in Paris, France.  He is recognized as one of the greatest missionaries of the Catholic Church.  Saint Francis Borgia (1510-1572) of the famous or infamous Borgia family.  He was born into wealth and power.  He married and after his wife died he recognized his call to the priesthood in the Jesuit order.  Receiving permission from Saint Ignatius top enter the order as a widower with children, after making arrangement ts for his children, he entered the order in 1546.  He went on to receive his doctorate and subsequently became the  third "Father General"-leader-of the Jesuit order to which he  contributed greatly.  He is seen by some as the second founder of the Jesuit order.

Jesuits are known for their role in education, the arts and scientific research--many planets were discovered by Jesuit astronomers and they are therefore named after therm.  Jesuits are often found associating with people in prestigious positions; yet they personally take the vow of poverty and live modest lives.  Based on this fact I am not surprised that Pope Francis I is recognized for his love of the poor and the underprivileged.  One of our parish priests noted that Pope Francis while he was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires frequently offered Mass "under tents" in the slums of the city welcoming the forgotten and the unwelcome, e.g. street prostitutes and drug addicts.  I have a slogan which I stumbled upon about a year or two ago which could describe Pope Francis:  "In the world, for the world; but not of the world".

I am very pleased and as I wrote above optimistic learning of the man the Cardinals have elected to be The Holy Father for The Church.  I am filled with hope.

Pope Benedict XVI

Adieu To Pope Benedict XVI.

I have lived under the pontificates of six popes--Popes Pius XII,  Blessed John XXIII, Venerable Paul VI, John Paul I, Blessed John Paul II and Benedict XVI.   Since the pontificate of  Pope John Paul I lasted only 33 days, I never got to know much about him.  The other five I grew to know, respect and love.  The much unjustly maligned Pope Pius XII navigated the Catholic Church through the difficult WWII years and 1950s.  The loving Pope John XXIII initiated the revitalizing Vatican II Ecumenical Council.  Pope Paul VI, the Italian working man's pope completed the Ecumenical Council and kept the Catholic Church on target giving us one of the prophetic encyclicals--"Humanae Vitae".  The athletic, charismatic philosopher Pope John Paul II  who gave so much to the Church; one of his great contributions regarding human dignity, human sexuality, love and marriage being his book "Theology of the Body".  And last but definitely not least, the shy professor with one of the greatest theological minds of the 20th-21st centuries, Pope Benedict XVI.

Though I grew to love and respect all the popes, the pope I have grown closest to and loved the most is Pope Benedict XVI.  Why?  I guess it's because I know him the best, even though I have never seen him in person.  I have read the book "My Brother The Pope" and some of his writings.  Among these are: "Breakfast With Benedict" (a collection of one page meditations), chapters from his two books collection of reflections on the Church Fathers titled simply "The Fathers" and lastly I'm in the process of reading his trilogy titled "Jesus of Nazareth".

Another reason I'm very close to Pope Benedict XVI could be our Bavarian connection.  Pope Benedict, as you probably know, is from Bavaria.  On my Father's side I am 2nd generation American--actually many of my uncles and aunts were born in Bavaria.  On my Mother's side I believe I'm 3rd generation American and her grandparents were from the German state bordering Bavaria.  In addition I lived eight years in Germany and have made several trips to the Bavarian region.

I really regret Pope Benedict's decision to relinquish his position as Pope, but I do understand his reasoning.  I am thankful that the Holy Spirit chose him to be our Pope during the confused atmosphere following the Second Vatican Council and despite his timidity his sound, logical, clear direction allowed all who listened to him to come to better know Jesus and His Church.

Pope Benedict  XVI, thank you for being a faithful, loving, gentile yet firm "prime minister" of Jesus' Church.  I pray that God continues to bless you.  You will remain in my prayers till I die or you're canonized.  Once again--Thank You!