The author of this first biography of the new Pope, Fr Michael
Collins, is an expert on Rome and the Vatican. He pursued postgraduate
studies at the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology in Rome. He
has written a number of books including Benedict XVl: Successor to Peter, Pope Benedict XVl: The First Five Years, John Paul ll: The Path to Sainthood and The Fisherman’s Net. The first thing to be said about Fr Collins is that he is an excellent writer with graphic powers of description and an eye for minute detail. His latest book, Francis, Bishop of Rome, is a joy to read.
In this short biography he captures the new pope’s personality so well and tells us a very great deal about him in a brief space.
We learn much, too, about the young Jorge Bergoglio and his family in Argentina, his entry into the Jesuit order, his life as a priest, bishop and cardinal, his work among the poor culminating in his election to the papacy in March, 2013.
I wasn’t aware that in 1980 the then Fr Jorge lived for two months at the Jesuit community at Milltown Park in Dublin. He spent time learning English with a tutor in the suburb of Clonskeagh. He seems to always have had a no-nonsense, down-to-earth approach to people and their problems.
As cardinal in Buenos Aires he reprimanded priests who refused to baptise children whose parents were not married. He said: “In our ecclesiastical region there are priests who don’t baptise the children of single mothers because they weren’t conceived in the sanctity of marriage. These are today’s hypocrites! Those who clericalise the Church. Those who separate people of God from salvation. And this poor girl who, rather than returning the child to sender, had the courage to carry it into the world, must wander from parish to parish so that it’s baptised!”
Cardinal Bergoglio didn’t hesitate to condemn abortion. The bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean addressed the issue of abortion in a document on October 2, 2007. At the launch of the document Cardinal Bergoglio lamented the low value which is placed on human life.
“The Church”, he said, “is very conscious of the fact that the cheapest thing in Latin America, the thing with the lowest price, is Life.”Fr Collins highlights the lack of pretension and ostentation in the Pope. On the morning he was created cardinal, a young assistant priest, Fr Marco, came to accompany him to the Vatican.
“When the cardinal emerged from the residence, Marco looked around for the official car.
‘How are we travelling?’ he asked politely.
“‘What do you mean?’ came the reply. ‘We are going to walk.’
“The young cleric was slightly embarrassed as he walked along the street with Bergoglio dressed in bright scarlet robes.
All the more so when they stopped at a bar for coffee on the way. Seeing his companion’s discomfort, Bergoglio laughed. ‘Don’t worry! In Rome you can walk around with a banana on your head and nobody will notice!’”
Pope Francis has still not moved into the private apartments in the Apostolic Palace where previous Popes lived. When he visited them after his election he exclaimed that 300 people could live in that space.
Fr Collins tells the delightful and revealing story of Pope Francis’ encounter with one of the Swiss Guards.
“Seeing a Swiss Guard standing outside his room one evening, the Pope suggested that he be seated. The young guard replied that he was obliged to guard the Pope during the night and had to remain standing.
“The Pope went into his room and brought out a chair. ‘I am going to bed,’ he said. ‘I can give you an order to sit down.’
The young guard was perplexed but finally obeyed.
Some moments later, the Pope returned with a snack.
‘Standing there, you must be hungry,’ he said, before wishing the guard a good night.”
I’ll never forget the extraordinary excitement I felt when that famous announcement, Habemus Papam, rang out over St Peter’s Square.
Fr Collins captures that sense of sheer joy so well as the new Pope emerged on the balcony.
“The crowd was silent for a moment before roars erupted again of Viva il Papa. With a name like Bergoglio was he Italian? But soon word spread. The Pope is from Argentina, the first Latino Pope! Shouts swooped up and down in the crowds. The South Americans began singing national songs. Those who had room jumped up and down with joy. For the Italians, it was enough that he had an Italian name. Here and there the plainchant tones of the Salve Regina floated from sallow skinned seminarians. The name Francesco rebounded throughout the square from thousands of voices.”