The surprise was the age and the new pontiff: Bergoglio to 76, many of the cardinals thought needed someone younger. However, according to some reports, the reformers believed that due to their age Bergoglio hurry to take action, and the Cardinals, which suits the present situation, however, hoped that there was little he has time, the article says.

The Catholic world was surprised by Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio is believed the majority of commentators, too old for the papacy, especially given the fact that Pope Benedict XVI denied, citing old age, writes Michael Sean Winters, in an article for The New Republic.

Then there was another reason to wonder: Bergoglio was the first Pope, who chose the name of the favorite saint of Catholics - Francis. "Choosing a name may be the key to understanding how it is going to lead the 1.2 billion Catholics in the world" - suggests the author.


"In the U.S. Catholics live in an affluent society and have lost the ability to hear the main message of the Holy Scripture: The Gospel - good news for the poor" - the author writes, recalling that "in Latin America, millions of Catholics go to bed hungry and live in the slums."


Bergoglio and other Latin American bishops persistently criticized those who implement policies that ignored the poor. In this regard, he continues the work of Pope Benedict, whose criticism of contemporary capitalism are never in the headlines, but, nonetheless, has taken place, indicating Winters.

The reports from Rome on the eve of the conclave said that the Cardinals want reform in the church. This does not mean that the Cardinals are looking for, who would change the Church's teaching on the attitude to gay marriage, abortion, and contraception. This meant that they wanted someone to eliminate corruption and moral decline that hit the Vatican in recent years, the article said.

To identify with the poor - is a mission, but in the end, the Vatican - this ministry, and the Pope, Francis has just become the most important minister in the world, the author concludes.

"First Latin American pope received mixed reactions in the region of jubilation and sarcastic comments to serious questions about his links with the former Argentinean dictatorship and its relation to same-sex unions, which received approval in recent years in several Latin American countries," - says The Christian Science Monitor .

Pablo Hiriart, publisher Mexican newspaper La Razón, writes: "In the Cathedral of St. Peter's historic shift occurred: the geographical center of Catholicism has shifted. European Catholic Church with the current leaving the service, the looting scandals and pedophilia (...) gave way under the pressure of geography. Asia , America and Africa - a powerful reserve of Catholicism and the papacy moved there, symbolically left in Rome. Catholic Church yesterday in the beginning of XXI century ".

Residents of Argentina said: "We can be proud that the Pope - of our land, our country is represented at this level. Now the church will remember us." However, other Latin Americans believe that the Argentines are now extremely proud of his "chosen people," the author notes.

In an interview with the Austrian Der Standard edition of the famous expert on the Catholic Church Hubert Fayhtlbauer commented with a dubious past, and the Pope have, what changes to expect after his enthronement.


"I was very surprised when I learned that the new pope - Latino, with no candidate from Brazil, so beloved by the Curia, and the Argentine, and even with a dark spot in the biography," - said the expert.

As for the Pope's controversial past (Bergoglio is known, is accused of conspiring with the Argentine junta, to kidnap two Jesuit priests), then expert advises not to jump to conclusions: "The whole story is too complicated." Bergoglio himself denies that he gave the priests. "I think that this topic has been discussed in the conclave and was able to persuade Bergoglio Cardinals unfounded accusations", - the expert on the Vatican. True, it is possible Fayhtlbauer adds that he regretted his actions.


New Pope can not avoid fundamental reform of the Curia, what he would have to rely on the assistance of experienced colleagues in administrative affairs. Of course, he will need and new people. It is quite possible that the pope will rule to constantly consult with the church functionaries from all over. "Such a large-scale reform of the Curia would lead automatically to a certain decentralization of power and the Pope would have changed a lot in the Catholic world," - said Fayhtlbauer.


"But in ideological terms - in matters of sexual morality, abortion and contraception - any major change under Francis should not be expected," - said the expert, noting that attitudes toward homosexuality Bergoglio "generally horrible." Although, he said, there is evidence of his biography that to homosexuals by the new Pope is not so intolerable as to the phenomenon.

Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Nobel Peace Prize in 1980, came out strongly in defense of the new Pope, reports El Mundo. "Some bishops were accomplices of the dictatorship, but Bergoglio - no," - he said. "They say that when he was the head Bergoglio Jesuit congregation did too little to rescue from prison two priests. But I know from personal experience: many bishops asked the junta to release the prisoners, and priests, but were refused."

Nobel winner hopes that now Bergoglio "courage to protect the interests of the people against the powerful people, not repeating terrible mistakes, and past sins of the Church."

Paolo Rodari correspondent Italian La Repubblica, the Rome diocese interviewed Cardinal Vicar Agostino Vallini, party conclave. Why the Pope is Jorge Bergoglio? Vallini said: "We appreciate the determination of the condemnation of sin and misconduct, as well as love for the young, the poor and the most disadvantaged in the world. Church is alive."


"We were impressed by the absolute simplicity and deeply spiritual man who feels the love of God and man, and live the gospel. He wants to serve the Church in accordance with the expectations of the time. Pope Francis emphasized that a person requires a high spirituality, and so I'm sure that He will fulfill the expectations, "- said the vicar.


What was in the Sistine Chapel immediately after the election? "After the election of the new Pope, we were in the excitement, we were touched, - said Vallini. - I would say that he was shocked looks less all - he relied on the mercy of the Lord. Then, when he accepted the mandate to the entire College of Cardinals, all of us prayed for him, because the Pope not be easy. "


"He will feel the closeness to all people, for the Church - a home for all. Poor and poor feel that they understand and love," - says the vicar.

Another material called La Repubblica: "He told me:" Or I'll marry you, or become a priest. "

"May the Holy Mother of God will judge me if I lie to," - says Amalia Damonte, the first woman, which the Pope gave Francis his love for more than 60 years ago when they both lived in the neighborhood of Flores. "I'll marry you and for us to build this house," - he said, drawing a house in a letter he sent to Amalia as proof of his love.

Is Bergoglio said that if he did not marry her, it will become a priest? Amalia said, "Yes, I asked him not to play with me, because my parents punished me every time, if they saw with him. Jorge became angry and told me that if he can not marry me, will choose the fate of the priest. We then it was on for 11 years. We were too small. "
Taken: http://www.inopressa.ru/article/15Ma...e/pope_15.html