Pope Francis: An expert on humanity

Alberto Barlocci
Ciudad Nueva, Argentina
Source: New City, Philippines

Alberto Barlocci, editor of the monthly Ciudad Nueva magazine (New City’s Argentinean edition), has been following the work of the new pope as archbishop of Buenos Aires. Exclusively for New City, Barlocci gives a portrait of the pastoral style of Jorge Mario Bergoglio: his relationships with politicians, his sobriety and simplicity, from friendship with the poor to the fraternal relations with his priests.

In these days the world is getting to know some character traits of Pope Bergoglio – which describe him very well, who he was for us as our archbishop for many years. For example, his personal austerity is not something improvised. In Buenos Aires, the Cardinal gave up the traditional residence used by the bishops of Buenos Aires, a car and a driver, and instead chose to live in a small apartment. He got around by bus and rode on the subway train. Several photographs show him talking to people on the streets or riding on public transport.

His austerity surprised us more than once. For example, it is said that during an interfaith meeting, when the participants came to the Archdiocese, they found him waiting for them at the door, without any assistants. With that sense of humour mixed with a bit of truth, he said to them, “What else should a cardinal do, if not open the doors?” Yes, what else should a cardinal, or rather, a bishop do? He should first of all be with his people, Pope Francis affirmed from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as soon as he was elected.

With his election, he has started a process in which the shepherd walks with his people and the people with their pastor. Even as a bishop, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was able to be with his people and has always accompanied the poor, the weak, and the sick. “He celebrated for us countless Masses, among cartoneros (collectors of cardboards from the garbage), in miserable slums, and with the unemployed,” declared Emilio Persico, a congressman who is quite involved in social work. “He cared for us,” he added.

Pope Bergoglio always warned about the easy enthusiasm for strong macroeconomic growth, especially in the presence of large numbers of the dispossessed poor. He did not hesitate to send his priests to the slums, having formed them well and supporting them at all times. He would often visit the places of the poor, knowing that these places are the “frontiers,” an expression dear to him, and which meant those places where the Church must be today. (…)

December 30, 2004 was a warm and hot day at the end of the year in Buenos Aires, and it ended tragically with a fire in the disco club Cromañón, where there was a rock concert. The fire, sparked by the launch of a flare, spread like lightning with nearly a hundred dead and hundreds intoxicated. Once again, the city had been hit hard by the lack of controls, corruption and irresponsibility (the managers of the disco had kept the exits locked with chains). Bergoglio showed a Church which accompanied the people in their time of sorrow. For many people affected by the tragedy that closeness was a consolation and some even discovered the faith that they seemed to have lost. For many it was an encounter with a church which was like a friend, a brother, a sister, and a mother.

Another incident happened in February last year, when negligence, irresponsibility and corruption caused a tragedy at the railway station. In the city centre laid 51 dead and hundreds injured. The archbishop of Buenos Aires was able to console and place the Church at the service of the poor people who were forced to travel on public services in their poor condition. (…)

There were many occasions when his deep theological training and his great pastoral experience shone out. Bergoglio was able to peer into the depths of the soul, there, where the Church, as an “expert on humanity,” can do wonders.