After a swift conclave,Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected by 115 cardinals as the new Pope of the Roman Catholic Church one week ago today. A Jesuit, the new Pope chose the name Francis, after Francis of Assisi, a saint favored by the founder of his order, St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Francis’ election was, frankly, a surprise to everyone, even some of the cardinals who took part in the electoral process. He is the first Pope to come out of the Americas (he’s from Argentina) in the modern age, as well as the first Jesuit Pope in history – and if his past is any indication, those may only be the beginning in a long line of firsts for the papacy.
Many in the Church – those in the Americas and progressives the world over, in particular – are thrilled at what they see as a potential game-changer for the Roman Catholic Church in the new Pope Francis. In many ways, Francis is quite different from his predecessor Benedict XVI, but there are also substantial similarities that might surprise some.
The coming weeks and months will tell us much more about the road that Pope Francis will lead the Catholic Church down, but in the meantime, it’s worth asking the question: what happens when the honeymoon is over? Initial appearances are one thing, but what can we expect to happen (or not happen) in the Church when its new leader really gets down to business?
In the realm of differences, we can expect a very new and different public persona as the face of the Church. Perhaps the greatest difference between Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis lies in the manner in which they teach and preach. Benedict, while a brilliant theologian and thinker, struggled to fill the shoes of his predecessor Pope John Paul II when it came to appearing colloquial and relatable to his audience. Francis, it seems, won’t have quite as much of a challenge awaiting him in that department. He’s a colloquial, often off-the-cuff speaker, and his humble demeanor endears him to his audiences almost effortlessly.
While the new Pope’s public persona may be quite different, that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll be seeing much change in the area of Church doctrine. Pope Francis holds many of the same views as his predecessor on controversial issues such as contraception, and gay marriage. Those who are expecting a liberal, table-turning revolution in Church affairs may be sorely disappointed – while conservatives who are afraid of cataclysmic change can likely breathe a little easier.
Perhaps Francis’ greatest strength is his strongly pastoral approach to the papacy. His dedication and kindness towards the least fortunate among us all points to a Pope who may be able to draw people (inside and outside the Church alike) together for the better, rather than forcing us apart. In this day and age, isn’t that something worth hoping for?