Francis’ five years of remarkable papacy

Pope Francis appears for the first time on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican March 13. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected the 266th Roman Catholic pontiff. He is the first Jesuit and first Latin American pope. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) (March 13, 2013) See POPE-ELECT March 13, 2013. Editors: This image was originally posted March 13. This is a slightly wider crop and the pixel noise has been reduced some.

NZ Catholic invited Cardinal John Dew of Wellington to contribute an article reflecting upon the fifth anniversary of the election of Pope Francis. Cardinal Dew’s article is below.

The fifth anniversary of the election of Pope Francis on March 13, 2013 is a time for reflection on this remarkable papacy. Pope Francis’ humble and practical ways surprised us from the day of his election. He continues to surprise, challenge and delight with his wisdom and with his knowledge of people, gleaned from his many years of pastoral experience.

Pope Francis embraces new Cardinal John Dew of Wellington, New Zealand, during a consistory at which the pope created 20 new cardinals in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 14. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) See POPE-CARDINALS Feb. 14, 2015.

When he gave his four-minute speech during the general congregation just prior to the conclave he said that “the Church is called to come out of herself and to go to the peripheries, not only in the geographical sense but also to go to the existential peripheries: those of the mysteries of sin, of pain, of injustice, of ignorance and of religious indifference, of thought, of all misery”. He has remained true to that statement, and like all good teachers he regularly returns to this theme which means we have to make it front and centre in our personal lives and in the life of the Church.

Pope Francis has made some structural changes and introduced a welcome decentralisation in the Church, including moving towards a more collegial, synodal Church, but his real focus has been on changing hearts and attitudes rather than structures. I think often of all the themes he has put before us which serve as guides for spiritual growth and Christian action:

• Humility to know ourselves as sinners, and not to judge others; • Mercy and welcome for those who struggle with the Church’s teaching in their lives; • Forgiveness as an act of love and acceptance;

• The primary place of the poor and marginalised in our prayer and action; • Wars and deprivation which drive people from their homes;

• Love for creation as “our common home”;

• The strength and the fragility of the family;

• Deep concern about violence and inequality, and the effect they have on ordinary people.

As a pastor I find that Pope Francis has affected so many people, and not just Catholics. He is truly a global leader, the conscience of the world. In an interview, Helen Clark acknowledged how he had affected her: “I look, for example, around the world at who is providing a sense of inspiration and hope at the moment. It’s the Pope. I am not a Catholic, but I recognise in this man tremendous goodness. A voice of sanity in a troubled world, often speaking what we all feel but could not express as eloquently.”

Regularly reading the words of Pope Francis gives me hope and encouragement, because he understands the messiness of our lives. He often speaks strongly in a very direct (and sometimes humorous) way, which challenges us to look at ourselves and how we act. He is not afraid to call out those who oppress or take advantage of others, or those who control processes which lead to great inequality or contempt for the earth. But he also speaks with great compassion and understanding, with a deep understanding and personal experience of the mercy of God. He always conveys hope. Because he is Pope I think we often see him as different in some way to ourselves, but I am sure that he does not see himself as in any way different to us.

— John A. Cardinal Dew, Archbishop of Wellington.

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