‘Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum. Habemus Papam’
More than one report on the 2005 papal conclave
had named Argentina’s Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the runner-up candidate
and real rival to Pope Benedict.
Only eight years ago. Why then should
we be surprised that this 76-year-old, humble theologian emerged last
night as Latin America’s first pope, the church’s 266th, Pope Francis?
Perhaps because of the profound opaqueness of Vatican politics and
particularly of its succession race. We see its operations only through a
glass darkly.
Perhaps too because form suggested that Europe, with its
60 cardinals out of 115 electors, and particularly Italy, would again
claim Peter’s rod as its own by right.
With a nice touch of humour he acknowledged as
much.
Speaking Italian with a slight Latin American accent, Francis
joked with the crowd before delivering his blessing last night, saying:
“As you know the duty of the conclave is to give Rome a bishop. It seems
that my brother cardinals went almost to the end of the world.”
Yet,today Latin America is home to 42 per cent
of the world's Catholics, and the church has said with one voice, and
with rapidity that suggests a broad consensus – although the previous
four popes were also all elected within two or three days – that it
hears their call.
The man they have chosen is no radical, a
theologically orthodox teacher on issues like abortion and
homosexuality, but has demonstrated a social conscience that, even if
not in tune with the continent’s adherents to liberation theology,
echoes its concerns. He is very much of the continent and its people’s
preoccupations. He has been fearless in recent years in confronting the
Argentinian establishment and wealthy although some controversy
surrounds his time during the years of the military junta.
But this is a
man of the people from a middle class family who has lived as
Archbishop of Buenos Aires in a small flat instead of a palace, prefers
public transport, and is reported even to cook his own food.
The first pope to come from the ranks of the
notoriously independent Society of Jesus, Francis has a reputation as a
moderate and conciliator. His biographer Francesca Ambrogetti says that
“he shares the view that the church should have a missionary role, that
gets out to meet people, that is active.... a church that does not so
much regulate the faith as promote and facilitate it.”
But he will be no political naif in the
corridors of the Vatican which he knows well. As cardinal, Bergoglio was
appointed to several administrative positions in the Roman Curia.
He
served on the Congregation of Clergy, Congregation of Divine Worship and
Sacraments, Congregation of Institutes of Consecrated Life and the
Congregation of Societies of Apostolic Life. And became a member of the
Commission on Latin American and the Family Council.
He now leads a troubled church of 1.2 billion
adherents, beset by scandal, seen by many, their faith tested, as out of
touch and conservative, which needs a helmsman of huge vision and
courage.
Pope John XXII confronted the troubles of his day by convening
the Second Vatican Council “to open the windows of the church to let in
some fresh air.”
Last night the Roman Catholic Church opened a new wide
window.