The Man from Argentina

Pope Francis 1st bows before thousands of the
faithful in Saint Peter's Square, asking for their
blessing on March 13, 2013.

He is not only the first pope to assume the name Francis, but Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, a Jesuit, is also the first person outside of Rome and below the equator to become the leader of the Catholic Church.

Francis 1st is a man of humility, compassion, and has an innate dislike for self-assumed pomposity.  As a Cardinal in Argentina, he lived in an unpretentious apartment, cooked his own meals, and rode the bus to work.  Before embarking for Rome, he declined the offer of a new pair of shoes

Catholicism needs more men such as this.

His selection may not have been as much of a surprise to insiders as it was to the public.  But that’s because the group of cardinal electors who elevated Bergoglio to the papacy is virtually the same as that which chose Joseph Ratzinger to be Pope Benedict XVI in 2005.
In an on-the-record post-conclave TV interview yesterday, at least one member of the clergy claimed that Cardinal Bergoglio had come in second to Cardinal Ratzinger during the previous conclave that selected Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI. 

Pope Francis 1st offers his blessing to the throng
gathered in Saint Peter's square, after first bowing
and asking for theirs on March 13, 2013.

In a separate interview, Cardinal Dolan of New York joked after the elevation of Bergoglio to the papacy, that Francis 1st said to the assembled cardinals “God forgive you for what you have done!”

Although Dolan framed his statement with humor, there is a hard reality in his comment.  Francis 1st faces significant challenges – pastorally and administratively. 

While observing the development of activities in Rome since the resignation of Benedict XVI, I detected a growing consensus – not merely among ordinary Catholics, but also among the clergy, that the Roman Curia, the governing body of the church, needs to be transformed – perhaps even repopulated.

That’s a start.  There are plenty of other issues on the table.

(Click on any image for an enhanced view.)