A humble Pope
The Supreme Pontiff in Rome is the one who sets the tone of the Catholic Church worldwide. The election of Pope Francis could open a new era of humility for an institution that has been battered by scandals and headed in Rome by a leadership far removed from the reality of their faithful.
Argentinean Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has the perfect background to reverse the perception of the Vatican’s arrogance. The new pope has spent a life without pretense, marked by humilitya virtue that at times gets lost at the highest level of the church.
His lifestyle, removed from the magnificence that usually surrounds the archbishop of Buenos Aires, as well as his first actions as the Vicar of Christ, reflects this man’s extraordinary modesty.
The arrival of Francis will bring the church a freshness and vitality. The concern Bergoglio has shown for the poor contrasts with the interests of his predecessor, Ratzinger, a theologian concerned with defending traditions, like the importance of holding mass in Latin, among others.
It is also impossible to ignore the meaning of the election of a Latin American pope. He shares the region’s Marian devotion and knows firsthand the injustices of poverty, even if he does not share the more politically progressive interpretations of the church’s social doctrine. Today, Latin Americans see one of their own on Peter’s throne, which will raise Catholicism’s weak shares in competing for the faithful in the region.
The new pontiff takes over a church that faces huge challenges. One is the need for deep changes and renewal in the Vatican. Francis is well positioned to achieve these from his perspective outside Rome’s power circles. How efficiently he can implement internal changes will be a test for the institution itself.
And finally, Pope Francis’ life experiences should bring humility to the leadership of the Catholic Church. This is a virtue that the institution needs now. We hope that the value of the new pope’s modesty mark a new era for the church.
