Francis: Portrait of the Pope as a young man....
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
I think that sums up the ministry of Bergoglio in Argentina. He was as is a man of the poor and dispossessed, a preacher of the love and salvation of Christ, a self effacing Servant of the Servants of God and a true Argentinian patriot.. and not a friend of the wealthy and powerful who ruled Argentina during the 'Dirty War' and betrayed its people.The poverty-stricken children who were his peers when he was a youngster in the 1940s were in his thoughts and he was determined to use his prominence as a bishop to better the lot of the impoverished, as opposed to rubbing shoulders with the Argentinean elite. He eschewed ostentation, showiness and glamour. Journalists dogged his heels, wanting exclusive interviews, and social climbers sought photo opportunities, but with a famously understated smile, and a reserved manner, he refused interviews and walked away from them. This man for all seasons would never be their man.
pax lux,
karl
Remember that thou hast made me of clay; and wilt thou turn me to dust again? Job10:9
karl
Remember that thou hast made me of clay; and wilt thou turn me to dust again? Job10:9