Six month anniversary of Pope Francis’ election: We take stock
(Vatican Radio) September 13th marks exactly 6 months since Pope Francis’s election
and in that time he has brought a new style of approach to the papacy. His human
warmth, his energy and his simplicity has won him many fans not just among Catholics
but across a far wider audience across the world. Monsignor John Kennedy is an official
at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and he spoke to Susy Hodges.
Listen
to the full interview with Monsignor John Kennedy:
Asked for
his assessment of the Pope’s first six months in office, Monsignor Kennedy says he
agrees with those who call Francis “the Pope of surprises” and says many people feel
“on the personal level a great sense of connection” with him. He says people relate
to the Pope’s many spontaneous gestures like “picking up the phone” to talk to ordinary
people, “getting out of the papal jeep” to reach out to people at his general audience.
“They love his simplicity and they’re uplifted by the initiatives he’s taking.”
At
the same time, Monsignor Kennedy points out that it’s clear that Pope Francis knows
where he’s going. “You can see that he’s a man with a vision, he’s a man who has
plans for the Church…. His plans for further reforms of the Church. ” He goes on
to say the Pope also “has a message for the whole world” and “it’s not only Catholics
who have an opinion of him.”
One very encouraging result of the Pope Francis
effect, says Monsignor Kennedy, is that through his example he is helping to encourage
lapsed Catholics to return to the faith. “He’s showing the best of the church in
many ways.”
When asked what we can expect from his second 6 months in office,
Monsignor Kennedy replies “more of the same, more surprises” and advises people “to
watch this space!”