Who is bergoglio

In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Francis spoke about the issue of sex abuse, and praised the former Pope Benedict for being "courageous" in his attempts to curb it.

In the same interview, Francis said that although statistics show that the majority of abuse happens outside the church, "the Church is the only one being attacked. Likewise, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests criticized Francis' remarks, saying they "reflect an archaic, defensive mindset that will not make kids safer. In an April 11 speech delivered to the International Catholic Child Bureau , Francis asked for forgiveness on behalf of priests who abused children.

The Pope's unscripted comments were hailed as his " strongest statement yet " on the sex abuse crisis. Francis said the he is aware of the "personal and moral damage Francis told America Magazine in August that he thinks it's "necessary to broaden the opportunities for a stronger presence of women in the church.

When Pope Francis washed the feet of two women during his Maundy Thursday trip to a youth prison in Rome, he set the tone for a papal shift in attitudes toward women. A letter from the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments explicitly said that only " chosen men " were to have their feet washed during this ceremony. This wasn't the first time Francis washed women's feet: in , then-Bergoglio made headlines for washing the feet of a pregnant woman.

On the topic of women's ordination to the priesthood, Francis has said the question is "not open to discussion," since it was settled under Pope John Paul II. Though Francis hasn't changed Church doctrine regarding LGBT issues, he has assumed a more loving, tolerant posture towards gay people than some of his predecessors.

He said in a July interview , "If a person is gay and seeks the Lord and has good will, well who am I to judge them? The Catechism of the Catholic Church While this statement has not yet resulted in any reforms at the doctrinal level, its power should not be overlooked. Prior to his papacy, in Argentina, Bergoglio called gay marriage " a destructive attack on God's plan.

In an interview with Corriere della Sera , Francis affirmed Church teaching on marriage — "Marriage is between a man and a woman," he said — but also acknowledged the reality of the need that exists for secular states to "regulate economic aspects between persons, such as ensuring healthcare.

In a speech last year , Francis spoke out against the "cult of money," which he described as a financial "imbalance" resulting from "the absolute autonomy of markets. Such an economy kills. How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points? These and similar comments have earned Francis harsh criticism, most notably from Rush Limbaugh , who accused the Pope of sounding like a Marxist.

Francis responded by saying that Marxism is "wrong," but he wasn't offended. He then reiterated his critique of "trickle-down economics. Since his appointment as Pope, Francis has "frequently shown concern for the environment," according to the National Catholic Register. His choice of "Francis" for his papal name might signify his interests in environmentalism, as St.

Francis — the patron saint of animals and ecology — is remembered for preaching to birds and caring for nature. In his inaugural mass , Pope Francis implored Catholics to be protectors of "the beauty of the created world. On January 24, , Fr. Frederico Lombardi, Director of the Holy See Press Office, announced that Francis "has begun work on a draft text on the topic of ecology, which could become an encyclical.

The forthcoming work, said Lombardi, would place particular emphasis on " human ecology " — the interrelationships of humans and their environments. On May 2, , the Pontifical Academy of Sciences — which is an international scientific academy housed in the Vatican — kicked off a five-day conference titled Sustainable Humanity, Sustainable Nature: Our Responsibility.

Over 40 academics from various disciplines are expected to attend the conference, the theme of which is to explore the relationship of humanity and nature. Those involved will discuss various ways in which nature both satisfies and fails to satisfy human needs for food, health, and energy. Francis has said his choice to downgrade his papal gear is the result of a "spiritual discernment that responds to a need that arises from looking at things.

Francis has stated his desire to have " a church that is poor, and for the poor. And Francis has taken larger-scale steps toward financial restraint. Although the Catholic Church has often been accused of financial corruption throughout its history, the VatiLeaks scandal that broke in January took the accusations to a new level.

Much of that money is managed in the Instituo per le Opere di Religione IOR , commonly called the Vatican Bank, which is known as the most secret bank in the world. Francis has made some big changes to the IOR. First, he fired the bank's longtime director. Then, he replaced four of the five board members overseeing the bank. But despite speculation that Francis was going to close it down, the Vatican announced in April that the IOR would remain open. Francis later accepted the Bishop's formal resignation on March 26, As Francis has made clear, he considers himself a "son of the Church.

One comment Francis made in an interview for America is important here. He said that although "many think changes and reforms can take place in a short period of time," he cautions that that "real, effective change" takes time. So while he hasn't made any doctrinal changes yet, the shifts in tone he has made may actually be his way of laying the groundwork for later changes.

At the same time, it's important to note that a strict dichotomy between style and substance isn't clear within Catholic theology. It's possible to communicate the substance of the Gospel through subtle gestures and words. Though Francis' gestures — washing women's feet, kissing a disfigured man — are unaccompanied by commentary, there is a theological depth to them shouldn't go unnoticed.

The accepted reason is that he was unable to cope with the tsunami of church problems owing to the frailties of his advanced age. But is this entirely plausible? Many popes, including John Paul II, have carried on in poorer health.

Perhaps there was something else? For years, no pope has ever known the name of his successor, or the fate of his own legacy, because all of them without exception have left the scene by dying. True or false, for me it was the most dramatic moment of the movie. In the movie Benedict declares that he will quit the scene, albeit that the finale sees them watching football on the sofa together.

In reality Benedict has remained a palpable presence within the Vatican assisted by Archbishop Georg Ganswein, who has gone so far as to proclaim that this is a twin-pope pontificate. Looking for more? Sign up for our daily Hollywood newsletter and never miss a story. More Great Stories from Vanity Fair. He chose as his episcopal motto, miserando atque eligendo , and on his coat of arms inserted the ihs, the symbol of the Society of Jesus.

He was immediately appointed Episcopal Vicar of the Flores district and on 21 December was also entrusted with the office of Vicar General of the Archdiocese.

Thus it came as no surprise when, on 3 June , he was raised to the dignity of Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires. Not even nine months had passed when, upon the death of Cardinal Quarracino, he succeeded him on 28 February , as Archbishop, Primate of Argentina and Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who have no Ordinary of their own rite. He asked the faithful not to come to Rome to celebrate his creation as Cardinal but rather to donate to the poor what they would have spent on the journey.

This task was entrusted to him at the last minute to replace Cardinal Edward Michael Egan, Archbishop of New York, who was obliged to stay in his homeland because of the terrorist attacks on September 11th. During that summer, Pope Francis went on his first visit to Asia. He spent five days in South Korea in August. On his return trip from South Korea, Pope Francis discussed his own mortality with the press.

He also suffered a personal loss around that same time after several members of his family were killed in a car accident in Argentina. That fall, Pope Francis showed himself to be progressive on several scientific issues. He told the members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences that he supported the Big Bang theory and evolution. According to The Independent newspaper, Pope Francis said that "The Big Bang, which today we hold to be the origin of the world, does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator but, rather, requires it.

Throughout late and into , Pope Francis continued his pattern of deep engagement with both political and environmental conflicts around the world. He spoke out against global abuses and the misuse of political and economic power, lamenting the disappearances and suspected murders of 43 students in Mexico; the dangers and losses of life caused by immigration; financial mismanagement within the church itself; and sexual abuse.

His decision to crack down on church corruption and excommunicate members of the Mafia were hailed by Catholics and non-Catholics alike, though they also caused him to receive death threats. The Pope tackled other political blockades too, bringing together Presidents Raul Castro , of Cuba, and President Barack Obama , of the United States, in a historic meeting that precipitated significant foreign policy changes.

Finally, his ambitious schedule of travel continued, with visits to Paraguay, Bolivia, and Ecuador, as have beatifications. I am well aware of the pressure that has led them to this decision.

I know that it is an existential and moral ordeal. I have met so many women who bear in their heart the scar of this agonizing and painful decision. What has happened is profoundly unjust; yet only understanding the truth of it can enable one not to lose hope. He added: "The forgiveness of God cannot be denied to one who has repented, especially when that person approaches the Sacrament of Confession with a sincere heart in order to obtain reconciliation with the Father.

For this reason too, I have decided, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, to concede to all priests for the Jubilee Year the discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it and who, with contrite heart, seek forgiveness for it. On November 21, , as the Jubilee Year of Mercy ended, the Vatican announced that the Pope had extended the dispensation to all priests to absolve "the grave sin" of abortion. The policy was documented in an apostolic letter written by the Pope, which stated: ".

I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion. The provision I had made in this regard, limited to the duration of the Extraordinary Holy Year, is hereby extended, notwithstanding anything to the contrary. I wish to restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life. May every priest, therefore, be a guide, support and comfort to penitents on this journey of special reconciliation.

In November , Pope Francis visited Myanmar amid a humanitarian crisis that had sparked the exodus of more than , Rohingya Muslims from the country. The pope first met with powerful military General Min Aung Hlaing, who refuted reports of ethnic cleansing by claiming there was "no religious discrimination in Myanmar. He then made a joint appearance with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi to deliver a highly anticipated speech in which he called for tolerance, but also avoided using the delicate term "Rohingya" and stopped short of condemning the persecution, drawing criticism from those who wanted to see a more forceful stance.

The Pope also met with other religious leaders, after which he headed to Bangladesh to show support for Rohingya refugees.