The new Pope has reportedly said the Church universal needs
Anglicans and that the Ordinariate is “quite unnecessary”.
In a note
released after the election of the first ever pontiff from Latin
America, the Anglican Bishop of Argentina and former Primate of the
Anglican Church of the Southern Cone, the Rt Revd Greg Venables said
Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was “an inspired choice”.
“Many are asking me what is really like. He is much more of a
Christian, Christ centered and Spirit filled, than a mere churchman. He
believes the Bible as it is written.
“I have been with him on many occasions and he always makes me sit
next to him and invariably makes me take part and often do what he as
Cardinal should have done. He is consistently humble and wise,
outstandingly gifted yet a common man. He is no fool and speaks out very
quietly yet clearly when necessary.”
Bp Venables added that in a conversation with Cardinal Bergoglio, now
Pope Francis, the latter made it clear that he values the place of
Anglicans in the Church universal.
“He called me to have breakfast with him one morning and told me very
clearly that the Ordinariate was quite unnecessary and that the Church
needs us as Anglicans.
The former Primate of the Anglican Communion’s Iglesia Anglicana del
Cono Sur de America added, “I consider this to be an inspired
appointment not because he is a close and personal friend, but because
of who he is In Christ. Pray for him.”