Bus rider

Three days since his election, one habit of the new Pope seems to stands out: his propensity to ride buses – whether in the sultry streets of Buenos Aires or the sedate surroundings of the Vatican. Indeed, the “Pope of firsts,” Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who is the first Pope in the Church’s 2000+ year history from the Americas (although of Italian descent), the first from the developing world, the first Jesuit, and the first to use the name “Francis”, is also the first to shun the Papal limousine preferring to join his fellow cardinals inside the shuttle as they proceeded to his post election dinner.

There are mixed reports regarding the origin of his choice of name. Some have pointed out the seeming divinely ordained choice of Pope Francis as the conclave that elected him began on the same day that fellow Jesuit, Saint Francis Xavier, was canonized—March 12. However, the less coincidental truth, according to a CNN report, is that his name was taken from St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan order.

(As an interesting aside, a 1$ bet for Cardinal Bergoglio’s election would have resulted in a return of $120 while the name Francis was not even on the list of names one could bet on.)

Without a doubt, “Francis” has a personal significance to the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires because of the simple lifestyle his namesake embraced. Eschewing the extravagance many in the Vatican have grown accustomed to, Pope Francis became famous in his hometown for his humility and lack of pomp, giving up his palatial Archbishop’s mansion in favor of a spartan apartment and cooking his own meals. In similar fashion, Saint Francis (who was the son of a wealthy merchant), chose to give up a life of luxury to live amongst the poor and downtrodden.

Latin Americans around the world are undoubtedly overjoyed at having one of their own at the helm in the Vatican and rightly so considering they comprise more than 40% of the 1.2 billion Catholics world-wide. Argentinians are particularly pleased as they may have lost the Falkland but have gained Rome. However, for the Argentinian LGBT community, they are keeping their fingers crossed since having an Argentinian Pope does not necessarily mean their life choices will be recognized by the Church. Indeed, despite the fact that the Argentinian government was the first in South America to legalize same-sex marriages, free contraception, and artificial insemination, all of these were staunchly resisted by from then Cardinal Bergoglio. In a 2010 letter published in L’Osservatore Romano regarding the then pending same-sex marriage bill, he wrote, “Let us not be naïve: this is not simply a political struggle, but it is an attempt to destroy God’s plan. It is not just a bill (a mere instrument) but a ‘move’ of the father of lies who seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God.” Strong words which brook no equivocation.

Latin Americans are not the only ones excited over having one of their own sitting atop the Vatican throne. The Society of Jesus must be equally elated and shocked given their reputation to be free thinkers, preferring to do things ‘their own way’ rather than blindly follow Church dogma. In fact, in 1773, Pope Clement XIV had the Jesuit superior general (a.k.a. the black pope) thrown in jail supposedly for insubordination. It will be interesting to observe brow Pope Francis’ Jesuit training will impact the direction of the church in the years to come.

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In line with the recently concluded papal conclave I thought it would be interesting to highlight some little-known factoids about the process. The word ‘conclave’ comes from Latin which means “with a key” and was coined in 1243 when the people of Rome, fed up after an extended period of time without a Pope, literally locked up the cardinals until they decided on a successor. In 1271, the roof of the building where the cardinals were meeting was torn and the imprisoned cardinals were put on a strict bread-and-water diet in the hope that their hunger and discomfort would hasten the decision-making process. In order for a Pope to be chosen, he must obtain a two-thirds vote from the cardinals eligible to vote, at which point the fumata bianca (the famous white smoke signal that signals the successful conclusion of a papal conclave) will be seen rising from the Sistine Chapel’s comignolo or roof.

This simple process meshes well with the new Pope’s character. Confined under humble conditions each cardinal was given the opportune time to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in choosing who would best lead the Church. It is a rare time when the College of Cardinals gathers together in simple reflection and servitude but it is also a lifestyle that Pope Francis is well accustomed to. And with his trademark humility and grace in simplicity the Church looks to be in good hands for the foreseeable future. The bus rider has become our bus driver.

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This day in history: March 16, 1521 is etched in my memory not because of any history book but as a result of Visayan balladeer Yoyoy Villame’s immortal classic. To be politically and legally correct, however, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan did not “discover” our country but was just the first European to reach our shores. He then claimed us in the name of King Philip of Spain.

As the first person to have supposedly circumnavigated the globe, Magellan was commissioned to find a Western route to the Spice Islands (the Moluccas) of Southeast Asia as an alternative to the southern tip of Africa which the Portuguese controlled.  Instead he sailed around the southern tip of South America, discovering the strait named after him and thereafter the calm body of water west of South America which he named the Pacific Ocean.

Unfortunately for him, our Lapu Lapu was not as calm as the other chieftains and Magellan was slain in a battle fought off a Mactan beach.

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“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” — Leonardo da Vinci

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