A Big Heart Open to God: America Magazine Interviews Pope Francis

[UrbScotty]

I ask Pope Francis point-blank: “Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?” He stares at me in silence. I ask him if I may ask him this question. He nods and replies: “I ​​do not know what might be the most fitting description.... I am a sinner. This is the most accurate definition. It is not a figure of speech, a literary genre. I am a sinner.”

The pope continues to reflect and concentrate, as if he did not expect this question, as if he were forced to reflect further. “Yes, perhaps I can say that I am a bit astute, that I can adapt to circumstances, but it is also true that I am a bit naïve. Yes, but the best summary, the one that comes more from the inside and I feel most true is this: I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon.” And he repeats: “I ​​am one who is looked upon by the Lord. I always felt my motto, Miserando atque Eligendo [By Having Mercy and by Choosing Him], was very true for me.”

The motto is taken from the Homilies of Bede the Venerable, who writes in his comments on the Gospel story of the calling of Matthew: “Jesus saw a publican, and since he looked at him with feelings of love and chose him, he said to him, ‘Follow me.’” The pope adds: “I think the Latin gerund miserando is impossible to translate in both Italian and Spanish. I like to translate it with another gerund that does not exist: misericordiando [“mercy-ing”].

Pope Francis continues his reflection and says, jumping to another topic: “I do not know Rome well. I know a few things. These include the Basilica of St. Mary Major; I always used to go there. I know St. Mary Major, St. Peter’s...but when I had to come to Rome, I always stayed in [the neighborhood of] Via della Scrofa. From there I often visited the Church of St. Louis of France, and I went there to contemplate the painting of ‘The Calling of St. Matthew,’ by Caravaggio.

http://americamagazine.org/pope-interview

Not sure if any other American media outlet has featured this kind of full-length interview with the new Pope. Haven't had a chance to read much of it, but hopefully will this weekend.

[TommyCelt]

1. America Magazine is the first...

...to do an in-depth interview with Francis.

Huge stuff here. Addressing the Church's position on gays, women, abortion, divorce-remarriage, disillusioned Catholics who've left the Church, etc. As Father James Martin mentions in his follow-up story "the Pope leads with mercy."

HOWEVER...

I am still waiting for the Holy Father to address the clerical abuse crisis in any meaningful way. I am frankly surprised there's really been nothing of substance from him on this subject since his election.

Viva il Papa!