Before conclave, Bergoglio stressed need to focus on Christ

Last updated on: March 11, 2014 at 6:01 am by CNA Daily News

Before conclave, Bergoglio stressed need to focus on Christ 2014-03-11T06:01:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Mar 11, 2014 / 12:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone has shared some of his memories of the meetings held in preparation for the 2013 conclave, recounting that Cardinal Bergoglio’s interventions emphasized the need to focus on Christ.

“The activities and the approach of the pontificate that is now being revealed in Pope Francis’ style” are an outcome of the pre-conclave meetings, the Vatican’s former secretary of state told CNA March 7.

Cardinal Bertone was one of the main characters of the transition between the papacies of Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. Having served as secretary of state under Benedict from 2006, he served as Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber during the sede vacante, and briefly resumed as Pope Francis’ secretary of state, until his retirement Oct. 15, 2013.

A year on from the election of Pope Francis, Cardinal Bertone said a major item of discussion during the pre-conclave meetings was “the setting of a new dialogue with society, in order to reduce the distance of mentality between the Church and new generations.”

During the meetings, it was made clear that “the Church had to focus on an awakening of faith and love by offering to mankind the essential doctrine, together with a sense of divine mercy.”

Cardinal Bertone then stressed that the Church “must not fear being the field hospital of humanity, in Pope Francis’ words.”

Pope Francis’ description of the Church as field hospital reminded the cardinal of a poem by Nino Costa, a poet from Piedmont – the Italian region from which he hails.

“Writing about the First World War, Nino Costa imagines a woman walking through a field full of injured and dying people. The woman is the Virgin Mary, but it can be perfectly fitted with the image of the Church, which consoles, encourages, heals.”

According to this view, the Church should “concretely respond to those who spontaneously set themselves at the margins of the Church, perhaps because of the defaults and defects of the men and women of the same Church.”

Given the present crisis of faith, the cardinals’ speeches “considered the occasions, the opportunities, the new perspectives opening up to the Church,” Cardinal Bertone recounted.

According to the emeritus secretary of state, the new evangelization was another major topic discussed during the pre-conclave meetings.

Cardinal Bergoglio zeroed in on the new evangelization in one of his interventions during the pre-conclave meetings.

Cardinal Bertone explained, “Cardinal Bergoglio spoke about a new evangelization brought toward the peripheries of the Church. A Church – he said several times – called to go out from itself to evangelize.”

“It was a no to the self-referentiality of the Church, and a yes to a Church going out, dialoguing with the world, moving toward everyone.”

Cardinal Bertone underscored that “the new Pope must be a man that arouses the contemplation of Jesus Christ.”

Conceding that “every Pope must do this,” yet – he added – “Jorge Mario Bergoglio accentuated the need to re-focus everything on Christ.”

Editor's Note: This is the first of three articles to be published featuring material from CNA's March 7 interview with Cardinal Bertone.

Vatican

Previous Post

March 10, 2014

Catholic polls prompt call to educate on beauty of marriage

Next Post

March 11, 2014 Cricket match ends in draw between Sri Lankan Catholic schools

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the Parable of the Good Shepherd teach?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Shepherds are wealthy Wolves are evil Jesus cares for each of His sheep Goats are bad