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A Big Heart Open to God: America Magazine Interviews Pope Francis
I ask Pope Francis point-blank: Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio? He stares at me in silence. I ask him if I may ask him this question. He nods and replies: I do not know what might be the most fitting description.... I am a sinner. This is the most accurate definition. It is not a figure of speech, a literary genre. I am a sinner.
The pope continues to reflect and concentrate, as if he did not expect this question, as if he were forced to reflect further. Yes, perhaps I can say that I am a bit astute, that I can adapt to circumstances, but it is also true that I am a bit naïve. Yes, but the best summary, the one that comes more from the inside and I feel most true is this: I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon. And he repeats: I am one who is looked upon by the Lord. I always felt my motto, Miserando atque Eligendo [By Having Mercy and by Choosing Him], was very true for me.
The motto is taken from the Homilies of Bede the Venerable, who writes in his comments on the Gospel story of the calling of Matthew: Jesus saw a publican, and since he looked at him with feelings of love and chose him, he said to him, Follow me. The pope adds: I think the Latin gerund miserando is impossible to translate in both Italian and Spanish. I like to translate it with another gerund that does not exist: misericordiando [mercy-ing].
Pope Francis continues his reflection and says, jumping to another topic: I do not know Rome well. I know a few things. These include the Basilica of St. Mary Major; I always used to go there. I know St. Mary Major, St. Peters...but when I had to come to Rome, I always stayed in [the neighborhood of] Via della Scrofa. From there I often visited the Church of St. Louis of France, and I went there to contemplate the painting of The Calling of St. Matthew, by Caravaggio.
http://americamagazine.org/pope-interview
Not sure if any other American media outlet has featured this kind of full-length interview with the new Pope. Haven't had a chance to read much of it, but hopefully will this weekend.
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A Big Heart Open to God: America Magazine Interviews Pope Francis (Original Post)
UrbScotty
Sep 2013
OP
TommyCelt
(838 posts)1. America Magazine is the first...
...to do an in-depth interview with Francis.
Huge stuff here. Addressing the Church's position on gays, women, abortion, divorce-remarriage, disillusioned Catholics who've left the Church, etc. As Father James Martin mentions in his follow-up story "the Pope leads with mercy."
HOWEVER...
I am still waiting for the Holy Father to address the clerical abuse crisis in any meaningful way. I am frankly surprised there's really been nothing of substance from him on this subject since his election.
Viva il Papa!