Does Francis like being Pope? A behind-the-scenes chat in the Philippines

Last updated on: January 29, 2015 at 10:12 pm by CNA Daily News

Does Francis like being Pope? A behind-the-scenes chat in the Philippines 2015-01-29T22:12:00+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.

Manila, Philippines, Jan 29, 2015 / 03:12 pm (CNA).- During his pastoral visit to the Philippines Jan. 15-19, Pope Francis held an unscheduled meeting at the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila with 40 Jesuit priests and told them how it feels to be the Successor of Peter.

After the meeting with families at the Asia Arena on Jan. 16 in Manila, Pope Francis met with members of his own Jesuit order, including Father Antonio Spadaro, director the of the Jesuit magazine Civilta Cattolica, who shared some of the details of the meeting with CNA.

He said Pope Francis was asked if he liked being the Pope.

“It doesn't displease him and he hasn't lost his peace since becoming Pope but rather has found consolation and great peace,” Father Spadaro said.

The Holy Father feels that his ministry from the Chair of Peter “is very much connected to his service as pastor” in Buenos Aires, and that his pastoral experience inspires him to remain close to the faithful, he said.

The Pope also spoke of the role of the Jesuits in the Church, emphasizing the mystical aspect of the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Jesuits “are men of transcendence and discernment. They are not afraid. Those who are afraid are like old people!” he told those gathered, according to the Jesuit priest.

Fr. Spadaro said the Holy Father underscored the importance of an examination of conscience, “which is the fundamental basis of discernment. The examination of conscience means verifying one's personal story in God's light, what one does throughout the day, implying thus a dynamism in one's own life, helping to look beyond the ideas or the rules which ideology can reduce us to.”

During the meeting Pope Francis greeted a Jesuit from China and gave him a rosary. “I have a special love for China,” the Holy Father said.

This was not the first time the Pope has surprised Jesuits during his apostolic journeys outside the Vatican. He also met with members of the Society of Jesus during his visit to South Korea last August and in Turkey last November. “These meetings tend to be private and low-key,” Fr. Spadaro said.

Asia - Pacific

Previous Post

January 29, 2015

A love for peripheries, the link between Pope Francis and St John Bosco

Next Post

January 29, 2015 Pope says palliums will be given to new archbishops at home – not Rome

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

Whose sheep did David care for before he became king?

Select your answer to see how you score.

His father's Saul's Pharaoh's His brother's