(Vatican Radio) In the context of the first anniversary of the election of Pope Francis,
the Holy Father’s first private secretary, Msgr. Alfred Xuereb has granted a lengthy
interview to Vatican Radio. In a wide-ranging conversation with Vatican Radio’s Alessandro
Gisotti, the Maltese priest, who served under the Pope-emeritus, Benedict XVI, and
has recently been appointed Prelate-Secretary to the Holy See’s newly-created Secretariat
for the Economy, speaks of Benedict’s extraordinary courtesy and gentleness, as well
as his “benevolent paternity”.
He tells the story of how the Pope-emeritus
blessed him for the last time before he took his leave to go and meet the new Pope,
Francis, who was already at work and, without a secretary, was opening correspondence
himself. Listen:
Msgr. Xuereb
describes the indefatigable work-ethic of Pope Francis, who, he says, remains a man
of profound prayerfulness that is integrated into his daily life. “In Pope Francis,”
he says, “I see the missionary who is calling the crowd, the great mass of people
who perhaps feel lost, to himself: with the intent of bringing them to the heart of
the Gospel.”