THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Pope Francis I, clearly a a man of humility, compassion and learning, faces challenges that will require vision and willpower
The Catholic Church has a pontiff from the New World: “from far away”, as Pope Francis I told the crowds – and the world – when he appeared last night on the balcony in St Peter’s Square. The choice of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, may have come as a surprise to many, but to anyone who appreciates the shift in Catholic demographics from Europe to the developing world, it looks like a wise decision.
Much about Pope Francis suggests continuity. He is Italian-speaking and a man of advancing years – at 76, he breathes with one lung. Moreover, he is a conservative on moral issues and has publicly defended the Church’s position on euthanasia, abortion, homosexuality and priestly celibacy. Liberals will be disappointed.
Yet in many other ways, this Pope is a bold and thrilling choice. He is the first Jesuit pontiff – from an order that normally eschews ecclesiastical honours. He is said to be a simple and honest man, who often speaks out on behalf of the poor and who chose, when made a cardinal, to live in a modest apartment rather than his luxurious official residence. Indeed, upon his appointment in 2001, he discouraged people from spending money to fly out to Rome to accompany him, urging them to donate the funds to alleviate poverty at home instead. » | Telegraph View | Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Why Pope Francis was chosen as new pontiff: Speaking after cardinals elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new pope, US cardinal Timothy Dolan explained why they chose him and the atmosphere inside the Sistine Chapel. » | Thursday, March 14, 2013
