2013-03-16 19:29:22

Christ is the center, not the Successor of Peter: Pope Francis


March 16, 2013: ‘Christ is the center, not the Successor of Peter’, said newly elected Pope Francis while addressing tens of thousands of professional communicators on Saturday, in the Paul VI hall in the Vatican.
‘Christ is the key reference, the heart of the Church. Without Him, Peter and the Church would not exist’ reiterated the Pope. Citing the often repeated phrase of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, he said Christ is present and leads his Church. Ultimately Holy Spirit is the protagonist of all that happened. He has inspired the decision of Benedict XVI for the good of the Church and He has sent the Cardinals for the election, explained pope Francis.

The Pope shared with the communicators his story of choosing the name ‘Francis’. ‘In the election, I was sitting next to Archbishop Emeritus of São Paulo and Prefect Emeritus of the congregation for the Clergy, Cardinal Claudio Hummes, a great friend! “When the thing became ‘dangerous’,” he continued, “[Card. Hummes] comforted me, and when the votes reached the 2/3 level, there was the expected applause, because the Pope had been elected – and [Card. Hummes] embraced me, and kissed me, and said to me: ‘do not forget about the poor.’ And that word is in here: the poor. Then, just in relation to the poor I thought of Francis of Assisi…. And Francis is a man of peace. “And that,” he said, “is how the name came to me.” Francis of Assisi. The man of poverty, the man of peace, a man who loves and preserves the creation……. And 'the man that gives us the spirit of peace, the poor man ... Oh, how I wish a Church of the poor and for the poor! His story delighted the thousands of media professionals arousing enthusiastic applause.

Pope Francis began his remarks by thanking the journalists for their service in recounting the events of the sede vacante, the Conclave and especially the Papal election. “You’ve been busy [these past few days],” said Pope Francis. “Your profession requires study, sensitivity and experience,” he said, adding, “[the journalistic profession] requires particular attention to truth, goodness and beauty – and this brings us particularly close together, because the Church exists in order to communicate precisely this: Truth, Goodness and Beauty in person.”

The Pope then continued his account of the name choice by saying how some had suggested he take the name Pope Adrian, because of his association with reforming the Church. And in reference to the fact that he is a Jesuit, the Pope added how others said he should call himself Clement XV to get back at Clement XIV who suppressed the Society of Jesus in 1773…

Pope Francis concluded his encounter with representatives of mass media from all round the world by extending his best wishes to them, their work and their families.
He imparted his apostolic blessing, however, in silence – out of respect, he said, for the fact that “not everyone present belongs to the Catholic faith and others do not believe.” “I respect the conscience of each one of you”, he said, “knowing that each one of you is a Child of God. May God bless you”.








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