THE
P RTAL
April 2013
Page 9
The Ordinary’s Page
Monsignor Keith Newton writes
Fr Robert
Barron, the author of
the book ‘Catholicism’ and presenter of the
series of DVDs on the Catholic Faith which
are being used by many groups during this
Year of Faith, tells a story about the end of
the Conclave in 2005 when Pope Benedict
XVI was presented to the crowd in St Peter’s
Square. Apparently Cardinal Francis George,
the Archbishop of Chicago, was caught on camera
on the adjoining balcony lost in thought.
When he later returned to the States he was
asked by the press what he was thinking about.
He said: ”I was gazing over towards the Circus
Maximus, towards the Palatine Hill where once
the Emperors resided and looked down on the
persecution of Christian and I thought. ‘Where are
their successors? Where is the successor of Caesar
Augustus? Where is the successor of Marcus
Aurelius? And finally; who cares? But if you want
to see the successor of Peter, he is right next to me,
smiling and waving at the crowds.’”
a man of humility, prayer and faith
Last month when our new Holy Father, Pope
Francis, was presented to the people of Rome as
their bishop and Universal Pastor most people were
surprised. Cardinal Bergoglio was not a name that was
on the pundits’ lips in the weeks before the conclave.
He immediately struck a particular chord and by his
words and actions he has shown himself as a man of
humility, prayer and faith.
He is obviously a man who does not like a lot of fuss
and prefers a simpler lifestyle. I was particularly struck
by his behaviour after the Sunday Mass following his
election at the Church of St Anna within the Vatican
which is used by Vatican employees. At the end of
Mass he did what any good Parish Priest would do; he
went outside the church and greeted the congregation
as they left. To the surprise of some of those concerned
with his security he went to the barrier and greeted
the crowds who were there to catch a glimpse of
him. One wonders how long he will allowed to act so
spontaneously.
unspoken criticism of Benedict XVI
The media has been very positive about him though
I expect that may change when he finds it necessary to
say something which is not popular with our secular
world. What has particularly concerned me about the
attitude of the press and some other commentators,
not least Catholic ones, is that in pointing out some of
the very positive things we have seen and heard about
Pope Francis they often contain an unspoken criticism
of the Papacy of Benedict XVI. They are very different
men just as Pope Benedict was very different from
Pope John Paul II.
Each Pope has a different way of living out this unique
office in the Church. I don’t expect we will ever again
have such a great teacher as Pope Benedict who also
reminded us of the beauty and dignity of the sacred
liturgy in the life of the Church. Pope Francis will
bring a new emphasis but his ministry will essentially
be the same; in his person he symbolises the unity of
the Church and he, together with other bishops, is to
be the guardian of its faith. The most important thing
above all else is that he is the Pope, the successor of St
Peter. Of course, there are important things he will do
and say but they are secondary to what he represents,
the continuity of the Church from the apostles.
God bless our Pope
He has asked for and needs our prayers as he begins
his ministry as the Bishop of Rome. He also deserves
or loyalty and our love - God bless our Pope.