Today — one year after he was elected Pope — Pope Francis is on a spiritual retreat with bishops and cardinals. Showing his usual simplicity he took the bus and sat in the middle of the pack.
One year ago on March 13, 2013, I stood with AP Television cameraman Paolo Lucariello near the obelisk in the center of St. Peter’s Square on a rainy, cold night, with tens of thousands of people huddled under their umbrellas waiting anxiously to see who would step out on the loggia on St. Peter’s Basilica as the new Pope. I was freezing cold and I couldn’t tweet because my phone had stopped working due to all the cell phone traffic. Not being able to tweet at a moment like that can be really frustrating for a modern-day journalist.
Then the red velvet curtains parted, and out he came, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Cardinal from Buenos Aires, Argentina. The crowd roared its approval, but many were not sure what to expect. Then he pronounced his first words “Fratelli e Sorelle, Buonasera” — “Brothers and Sisters, Good Evening” and the love affair between the new Pope and the public began.
He told the crowd that he had come from the “end of the earth” and then bowed his head and asked the people to pray for him. Silence descended on the packed square.
I was stunned. We had been scouring our papal contenders lists, preparing video and biographies for weeks, and I had dismissed the Cardinal of Buenos Aires at age 76 as being too old. I assumed that after Benedict felt that he did not have the strength to do the job, the Cardinals would look for a strong, young, forceful Cardinal to clean up the mess at the Vatican. Turns out they chose someone forceful, strong and determined but not young, and although he appears in full of energy and in great health he does have only one lung.
See my blog post: “A Bird’s Eye View of the Election of Pope Francis”
From the first moment when he bent down before the crowd, it was clear that there would be change under Pope Francis. The next few weeks left Vatican-watchers aghast. Pope Francis refused to move into the Papal apartments, preferring the simplicity of his room at the Santa Marta residence inside the Vatican. He chose to keep his simple black shoes and iron cross. Benedict XVI used red shoes and a gold cross.
His weekly audiences quickly became lively events with thousands of people gathering in the square and the Pope stopping to kiss every baby and greet every person with a handicap. He often stops to trade his “papalina” white skull-cap with someone from the crowd offering him a new one.
People from Argentina often hand him a gourd with a straw with a traditional Argentinian drink called Mate inside. Without hesitating the Pope often takes several sips. His security guards seem to have given up on trying to stop him.
See blog post: “Francesco Frenzy”
Just a few weeks following his installation, he broke with tradition celebrating the annual foot-washing mass before Easter by going to a juvenile detention center in Rome and washing the feet of young men and women of different races and religions some with tattoos on their feet.
See blog post: “Powerful Gestures”
His first trip outside the Vatican was not to visit a Catholic group or church, it was to the tiny island of Lampedusa where tens of thousands of immigrants arrive from north Africa every year seeking a better future in Europe. Over the years thousands have died in the crossing. The Pope chose to meet these immigrants from Eritrea and Somalia, many with little understanding of the Catholic Church. I interviewed a few of the immigrants the day before the Pope arrived and they were not even clear about who the Pope was. Nevertheless, he made his way down the pier greeting them.
See my Post “Goosebumps in Lampedusa”
The Pope began to assert his influence on world affairs. In September 2013, when the US government was contemplating a military strike on Syria, Pope Francis called for a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria. In the evening, tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square as the Pope led a five hour prayer service in which he said, “violence and war only lead to death”
In October he made his first pilgrimage as Pope to the home of his namesake, Saint Francis. There he spoke harshly about the necessity for the church to “strip itself of its worldliness, that leads to vanity, pride and idolatry,” and urged Catholics to imitate the humility and simplicity of Francis of Assisi. For lunch the Pope chose to eat with a group of homeless people.
I watched the Pope throughout the day in Assisi as he moved from tough words about worldliness to joking with young couples about throwing plates at each other if necessary but making peace by the end of the day. It was the first time I noticed his ability to combine his own personal simplicity, clarity and humor to deliver his message to the public.
See blog post: “A Day in Assisi Covering Pope Francis.”
In an early interview with a Jesuit magazine Pope Francis said the Catholic church “must be like a field hospital after battle, healing the wounds of its faithful and going out to find those who have been hurt, excluded or fallen away.” He added, “you have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else.”
See blog post: “The Revolutionary Pope”
On his first trip abroad — to World Youth Day in Brazil, the Pope told reporters “Who am I to judge?” when asked about homosexuality. He changed the schedule originally organized for Pope Benedict XVI and added a visit to the slums.
Much has been expected from Pope Francis in terms of addressing some of the thorny social issues facing the church. Will Francis change the church’s position on communion for divorced Catholics, contraception and the role of women in the church? Francis has passed the ball to the Cardinals and Bishops organizing a Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican in October 2014 where they will tackle these complicated questions.
One of the biggest problems facing Pope Francis has been the question of corruption in the Vatican governing body, the Curia and at the Vatican bank. Francis immediately set up a couple of commissions and what has become known as the G8 — a group of 8 Cardinals that would oversee the cleaning up of the church.
According to Marco Politi, author of several books on the Vatican, “in this first year the Pope has done a lot of work just in cleaning the financial affairs of the Holy See and this was also one of the points of the agenda of his constituency during the Conclave. The Cardinals asked to bring transparency in the Vatican Bank.” They are still working on that one.
Politi added that Francis is making a lot of enemies although for the moment they have mostly remained silent with just a few websites and newspapers writing critical articles., “Pope Francis has begun a revolution,” said Politi, and like every revolution there are groups who are opposed to the reformers. This is only the tip of the iceberg of opposition and resistance.”
When Pope Benedict XVI stunned the world with his resignation in February 2013, he promised he would remain “hidden from the world.” He is now living a life of prayer in a small monastery inside the Vatican, (see Blog Post: “The Last Day of Pope Ben XVI“) but recently he appeared at a Consistory to name new Cardinals in St. Peter’s Basilica, and in an interview with an Italian paper Pope Francis that that Benedict was not a “statue” . It looks like Benedict will be increasingly present at Vatican events in the future.
In his first year this Pope has become wildly popular with the faithful flocking to the Vatican. He has earned the nickname “the people’s Pope” and “the Pope of the Poor”. He was named Time Magazine’s Man-of-the-Year for 2013.
I was a week ahead of Time naming him my man of the year. See Blog Post: “Pope Francis MM’s Person of the Year 2013.”
Maltese Monsignor Alfred Xuereb, the personal secretary for Pope Francis says the 77-year-old Pope always moves like he is in hurry — “has not wasted a minute! He works tirelessly and, when he feels the need to take a moment’s pause, he closes his eyes and does nothing: he simply sits and prays the Rosary” Xuereb told Vatican radio this week.
Francis has had a busy first year, but the next months look even busier. In May he has a planned trip to the Middle East and this week the Vatican announced that he will go to South Korea in August. Then in October he will preside over the Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican. I hope to cover it all for AP Television and blog about it.
A final huge THANKS to my fellow blogger Tiffany Parks of Pines of Rome who wrote a delightful paragraph about me in her blog post “Twelve Months a Pope.” I have had a hellish week with one of my children in the hospital– where I am writing this post from– and having someone even suggest that I am a “big-time journalist” boosts my spirits. I particularly liked the part about my cooking “red velvet cupcakes” and “sewing carnival costumes”. Love ya Tiffany!!
The Swiss guards are also enjoying the quiet days in Vatican. We ran into a half a dozen of them having a swim at the Terme dei Papi (!) here in Viterbo on Thursday, soaking in the huge hot pool.
No way!! Did you get a photo? I would have loved to re-tweet your photo of Swiss Guards in the Terme di Papi. That is great!! If you have one tweet it, or send it and I will. Were they wearing yellow, blue and red striped bathing suits?
Thanks for the one year wrAp-up. To see all he has done collected in one article makes me realize how revolutionary Pope Francis really is. Also, I was unaware that he partakes of items offered by the people he meets on the street. I can certainly see how that would unnerve his bodyguards. What strikes me in every shot I see is the kindness on his face. He seems to have a smile for everyone. I like that.
I even get unnerved when I see him sipping the Mate’ — if I were a body-guard I would be having a heart attack. He definitely has a smile and a kind word for most everyone he meets in public. I wonder what is like when he gets really mad though. He is fighting some big battles on the inside, so there must be moments of tension.
. . you almost have me warming to the whole concept of organised religion . . . almost!
Yeah right! You? Organized religion? No way. I am eagerly waiting your posts on Iran and hearing about changes or non-changes in the religious/social/cultural situation there. Or are you just going hiking on some remote trails and sending photos of Iranian flora and fauna (which I am sure are lovely too)
And how do you do it??!! This is a terrific summary of his first year, delightfully human and a wise assessment. It helps to have his work so clearly laid out, for many are a bit confused about how much is purely charm with no substance, and how much really substantial work has he gotten done? You’ve shown him planting seeds for change at each turn.
And your friend’s assessment of you is what we all see – and rejoice for each of your works – great kids, great journalism, and a superb blog. Hope for some good health news, for all of you soon –
Thank you Nancy for all your support both professional and personal. I really appreciate it.
Tricia,
What of Archbishop Gänswein (Father Giorgio)? I note that Pope Francis has a Maltese personal secretary, but does the archbishop remain Prefect of the Papal Household? Does he reside in the monastery with Pope Benedict? (Intellectually and emotionally, I remain very much a Benedictine, rather than a Franciscan.)
Philip — I am glad that you say that you consider yourself more of a Benedictine that a Franciscan. Pope Francis is so wildly popular right now that it is good to have someone who doesn’t just jump on the band-wagon. You must tell me more about what you like/miss about Benedict XVI. Archbishop Georg Ganswein is still very much in place in his position as Prefect of the Papal household, serving one Pope and living with another. He gave a moving interview to Vatican TV on the anniversary of the resignation of Benedict XVI. Here are a couple of quotes for you:
“Clearly, taking one’s leave is always a sad thing, a thing that hurts, that is painful…On the other hand, there was also the feeling of gratitude for these years that I was able to live near a great Pope. I knew about (the announcement) a little before, and certainly, when the Pope told me, he told me with orders not to tell anyone, and I did not say anything. I knew about it, however, at the moment he said it, I was shocked. For me, the last day of his pontificate was a day of great sorrow.”
Ganswein said that Benedict’s was an “act of great courage, even a revolutionary act, which opened up possibilities that no one at that moment could see.”
“The Pope said it himself, when he read out the text of his announcement, that he was no longer able to guide the barque of Peter, the Church of the Lord.”
The decision to step down was: “an act of love for the Lord, for the Church and for the faithful, to step aside to open up the possibility to a person who has more strength who can continue his work.”
“We are all seeing the impact of Pope Francis on the world, not only on the faithful in the Church, but on the world; it is a huge impact, and this impact was also facilitated by Pope Benedict in his resignation. He opened up a possibility that until then was not there, and we see that Pope Francis has taken up this situation and we are pleased that today it is so. ”
So, I think Ganswein is absolutely right in noting that Pope Francis would not be here today doing anything if Pope Benedict did not have the courage to break with 600 years of tradition and step down.
And while we are on the subject, what do you think about Benedict becoming increasingly a presence at events at the Vatican? He is expected at the Canonization of JPII and John 23rd in April.
Tricia,
Thank you for your thoughtful reply.
What I admire in Pope Benedict is that he is the first pope for many reigns to bring to the post an intellectual focus to the papacy and the role of the pontiff and the church. In particular, I was pleased to see his defence, early on in his papacy of what he termed “Western values”, especially in the face of militant Islam, for which he was unfairly criticised by the liberals, both secular and religious. Pope Benedict applied an intellectual rigour to his role which, so far as I can see, is entirely absent from that of Pope Francis, whose approach thus far seems to be almost entirely emotional. It is what I have described to you before as his ostentatious humility. Pope Benedict brought dignity to his office, much needed after the long years of decline in the health of Pope John Paul, a dignity that I feel Pope Francis has dispensed with. I don’t think that a pope can be “one of the boys” and retain the authority that the papacy needs to provide long-term leadership to the clergy and the church. Certainly Pope Francis has charisma, which Pope Benedict rather lacks, but sustaining the leadership requires more than charisma: it requires application, authority, administrative skill – which no pope since Paul VI seems to have had – and dignity of office. My view is that the pope should reside in the Papal Apartments, not slum it in the Santa Marta; Pope Benedict lived modestly in the Apartments, without ostentation. The pope is not “primus inter pares” as Francis would have it, but, theologically, the Vicar of Christ, the figurehead of the church. On the negative side, I feel that Pope Francis strikes the wrong note when he says that he wants a “poor church for the poor people”: the implication is that if one isn’t poor, the church has no time for you. This is a criticism of him made by my friends in Argentina, who say that as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Bergolio wasn’t interested in middle-class Porteños, only the poor, as if there is no place in the church for those who aren’t “poor”. [On a trivial level, I find it odd that Pope Francis seems to wear long grey/black trousers under his white soutane. I also regret his decision to dispense with the red shoes and some of the other indicia of the papacy. As to which, in my view the only article of papal regalia that Pope Benedict might have been requires to forego when he abdicated as reigning pope is the pallium, but here we’re getting into the arcane details …]
As for the interview with Archbishop Gänswein, I think he is right that Pope Benedict deserves respect and admiration for having the courage to admit that because of his age and infirmity, he should relinquish his office. In the future we will see other popes, including Francis, do likewise when age and infirmity overtake their ability to lead the church. Having been so close to Pope John Paul II throughout his declining years, Pope Benedict was clear that he did not want to remain in office in similar circumstances.
Thank you so much for your response Philip, it really helps me with my work. They are many people who think like you but are not being very vocal about it right now. Your excellent explanation,including both the big picture and the small details, helps me to understand better.
I certainly hope your child is improving swiftly. I have said a prayer. Thank you for another interesting post.
Thank you Joan for your thoughts and prayers. It is not easy but we will get through it.
Trisha,
What a wonderful summary of Francis’s first year combining fact and personal interpretation. Very insightful. It is amazing you did anything at all given the other pressures on you and demands on your time. Thank you for producing such an excellent statement of why we all admire this great man.
Love,
Dad
Thank you Dad!
Another homerun by Patricia Thomas! Excellent and thorough post as always!
And you don’t need to thank me for telling the truth (even though the red velvet part might have been partially invented–scones would have been more precise!).
You are an inspiration, Trisha. I wish I had half your industry! I hope your daughter is feeling better soon! (Red velvet cupcakes might not go amiss!)
PS Pope Francis is so adorable in that first photo! His timid look kind of reminds me of a first-grader on his first day of school!
Tiffany, you are so kind and generous with me. I think some red-velvety chocolate cupcakes are in order for us all. I agree with you about the photo — he definitely does look like a shy first-grader on the first day of school. Very cute.
“THE CROSS IS THE PRICE FOR TRUE LOVE” – a repetition of the act of Jesus, of course….but still….that allegory is something everybody – without exceptions – should ponder about……