TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: When the curtains opened Wednesday, allowing in the icy cool, air through the Vatican corridors, the world heard the much awaited ~ “Habemus Papam”, Latin for “We have a Pope,” most Jesuits would probably have been lost in a doctrinal book, rather than following the developments at the Vatican.
For a religious congregation that has in the five centuries of its existence deliberately chosen to remain away from administrative posts, rather vowing undying obedience to the Pope, the elevation of one of their own means many things to them, as well as to the world.
“More than him being a Jesuit, the type of person he is, is reason enough to rejoice. That he is a Jesuit, is secondary,” Fr Gregory Naik, a Jesuit priest who himself has been in administrative positions in the Jesuit headquarters in Rome said.
Known for their love of learning, which has earned them the tag “The schoolmasters of Europe” especially in post Reformation days, the Jesuits take a special vow of obedience to the Pope.
“It is not a very publicised event, but soon after the election of the Pope, the first thing the Superior General of the Jesuits does is goes and renews the vow of special obedience to the Pope,” Fr Naik said.
Fr Naik said that he carries a burden of huge expectations on him, more so because he’s a Jesuit and because he comes from the third world. “It’s a bit too early to say what can be expected. But some signs are indicative of things to come. He’s really simple, not a man of formalities and not a man of protocol. He asked people to bless him first before blessing them. That itself is a sign,” Fr Naik said adding that the Church should pray that he might live up to the expectations.
“It’ll take time (for things) to settle down,” he said.
Jesuits, according to the instructions of their founder St Ignatius, are not allowed to
and should avoid administrative positions in the Church and take them up only after permission from the Superior General.
“Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão, expressed his joy at the election of a worthy successor of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the person of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, who adopted the name of Francis,” the diocese said in a statement. The Archbishop of Goa has called for prayers for the new pope.
“The prayers of the awaiting Church were answered with speed. With hearts filled with joy, we thank Our Lord Jesus Christ for the gift of a new Shepherd to the Universal Church. We would like to take this opportunity to pledge to the new Pontiff filial respect and obedience and the support of the prayers of this Archdiocese of Goa and Daman,” Archbishop Ferrao said in the statement.
Pledging filial respect, obedience and the support of prayers of the faithful of this Archdiocese, he appealed that March 19, Feast of St Joseph, Patron of Universal Church, the day when the new Pope will inaugurate his Ministry, should be observed as a day of prayer for the Pope.
He also announced that the anticipated Chrism Mass to be held on March 21, 2013, at the Se Cathedral, Old Goa at 10.00 am will be also the Thanksgiving Mass for the new Pope. On both these days, namely March 19 and 21, the offices at the Archbishop’s House will remain closed for the public.
Delhi Archbishop of Goan origin Anil Couto said he was happy to hear the news of election of a new Pope though Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio election came as “a bit of surprise” as he was not among the frontrunners.
“Though Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was not one of the frontrunners and therefore his election came as a bit of a surprise but because we believe that the Cardinal electors are guided by the Holy Spirit in the task to elect the new leader of the Church, I am indeed very happy to hear the news,” he said.
“After not having a Pope for nearly a month we now have one to lead the Church further. It is absolutely wonderful,” Archbishop Couto said in a statement in Delhi.
Maria Helena Souza Moderator of Diocesan Pastoral Council, a church pastoral body said, “Since the new Pope has taken the name Francis, in a flash I am reminded of the words of St Francis of Assisi that I coincidentally came across yesterday, start by doing what is necessary; then do what is possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
Deputy Chief Minister of Goa, Francis D’Souza said, “I feel very good about the fact that the new Pope is a Jesuit as I have studied in a Jesuit school (St Britto’s) and that he took my name as well.”
“It’s also a wonderful thing that the Pope, even though of Italian origin, is from South America which is the other side of the world and it gives us hope that in future we could even have an Indian Pope,” said D’Souza adding further that the election of the new Pope has set in a new era for the Roman Catholic Church.
Konkani writer Willy Goes said, “The election of Pope Francis who is the first non-European Pope is a welcome change.”
“The Church is splitting into several sects and Pope Francis like his predecessor late John Paul II has to try to get all groups united,” he said. Goes said that his reflection on this issue will be penned down in the next edition of Gulab.
Captain James Braganza, Captain of Ports said, “This is the best thing that has ever happened to the community. Whatever media coverage in the newspapers today about the new Pope speaks volumes about him,” Braganza said stating further, “Undoubtedly he has grace, which made Cardinals elect him.”
