From his very first words as Bishop of Rome, our new Pope Francis revealed a gracious respect for the religious belief, freedom of conscience and dignity of each person – values and behaviour so essential for Christians in Asia Pacific. His first blessing was a simple, modest acknowledgement of the conscience of each person: “Since many of you are not members of the Catholic Church, and others are not believers, I cordially give this blessing silently, to each of you, respecting the conscience of each, but in the knowledge that each of you is a child of God. May God bless you!”
His choice of the name Francis speaks to a desire for peace, for reconciliation with creation and for respect of the poor. “For me he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and safeguards creation. In this moment when our relationship with creation is not so good – right? – He is the man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man … Oh, how I wish for a Church that is poor and for the poor!”
Francis of Assisi reportedly urged his followers, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel. And, if necessary, use words.” It appears that Pope Francis is similarly encouraging by his first actions as much as by any words, reminding us of the calling of the Church today. He is demonstrating what every Jesuit knows from the Spiritual Exercises – that “love ought to manifest itself more in deeds than in words” (Spiritual Exercises, No. 230). As Jesuits, we are committed to serving others “by the ministry of the word, by spiritual exercises and works of charity”.
Pope Francis has chosen the motto “Miserando atque eligendo”, meaning lowly but chosen; literally in Latin ‘by having mercy, by choosing him’. It is the motto he chose as Bishop, and is taken from the homilies of the Venerable Bede on Saint Matthew’s Gospel relating to his vocation: “Jesus saw the tax collector and by having mercy chose him as an Apostle saying to him: Follow me.”
In his homily at his inauguration, Francis urged his listeners to care for creation, for one another and for our own selves. As we conclude our Lenten waiting, a time of inner silence and preparation, let us give thanks for the encouragement and insight revealed in the words and actions of Pope Francis.
Mark Raper SJ
President, Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific
March 26, 2013