What's in a name? From St Francis to Pope Francis

(Vatican Radio) One month on from the start of Pope Francis’ ministry, Rome’s Lay Centre hosted a seminar exploring the influence of the 13^th century Italian saint from Assisi on Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Entitled ‘What’s in a Name?’, the conference featured Capuchin Father William Henn, a theology professor and expert ecumenist, who examined some of the striking characteristics of St Francis that the Argentinian cardinal has sought to embody, both before and after his election as the 265^th successor of St Peter.
Drawing on the writings of Francis, as well as the events of his dramatic conversion from wealthy merchant and warrior to founder of the Order of Friars Minor, Fr William looked closely at the legacy of one of the world’s most popular saints. During a break in the conference on Thursday, he also shared with Philippa Hitchen some insights about how the Franciscan focus on poverty and penance, peace and reconciliation, may help to improve ecumenical and interfaith relations under this new pontificate…..
Listen:

“He (Pope Francis) mentioned 3 things when he explained this name: care for the poor, a man of peace and also care of creation….when Francis was a young man he wanted to be a soldier…but a big part of his conversion was the change to be a man of reconciliation…..he goes from being a man who tore things down to a man who builds up churches…
In his Rule of 1221, Francis has a chapter on those friars who go to live among the Muslims….he says the most important thing for them is to try to live the Gospel, not to try to change other people, but to live without hiding the fact they’re Christians and their lives will be a kind of sermon, a proclamation of the Gospel….
Even looking at the name Francis gave the group he founded – Friars Minor, that means lesser brothers, it reflects a great respect for other people… his whole vocation in a way could be seen around the voice he heard when he was a young man ‘Repair my house’ – personally I see my own vocation, working in ecumenism as precisely that, as an attempt to ‘rebuild the house’…”
There’s so much about his (the Pope’s) personal style which is really going to have a tremendous effect….he wants to be close to people….but also I think he is a man of strength… before the election of the pope, many of us were talking about how difficult a job it is…..but the thing I see in his face is a sense of serenity, a trust in the Holy Spirit….”