After two weeks, the conclave has finally made its decision on the new pontiff who has emerged as Pope Francis formally known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. One of the first decisions a new pope makes is the choosing of his papal name. In the history of the church, Cardinal Bergoglio is the first to be called Pope Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the son of wealthy merchants who abandoned all for a life of poverty in the path of Jesus Christ, according to the Washington Post.
The choosing of his papal name is not the only history this Pope has already made. He is also the first Pope ever from Latin American with his home country being Argentina. Pope Francis has been described as moderate to conservative, and it is being reported that he stands with Pope Benedict against gay marriage. However, he is hailed as a defended of the poor and champion for social justice. Here is an excerpt from the Washington Post:
But the first Latin American pope also represents a cultural bridge between two worlds — the son of Italian immigrants in a country regarded by some as the New World colony Italy never had. For many Italians, his heritage makes him the next best thing to the return of an Italian pope. Bergoglio remains a fierce critic of socially progressive trends, including gay marriage, representing a continuity of Benedict XVI’s conservative doctrine. Though questioned for some of his actions during Argentina’s Dirty War, he may also be a target hard for progressives to hit. In recent decades, he has emerged as a champion of social justice and the poor who has spoken out against the evils of globalization and slammed the “demonic effects of the imperialism of money.” Read More
The Church has seen many scandals and cover-ups by its leaders in their failure to protect the innocent under the reign of Pope Benedict. My prayer is that Pope Francis can usher in a new era of hope, reflection, healing, and restitution.
