Getting the Numbers of the Pope Right

After the announcement of "habemus Papam" (We have a Pope) on 13 March, 2014, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio had taken the name Francis. Many immediately started referring to the new Pontiff as Francis I.

The Vatican clarified that his name is just Francis, and there is no need to refer to him with a number unless or until a future pope takes the name Francis II.

More confusion surrounds references to Francis as the Successor of St. Peter. Is he the 265th, 266th or 267th pope?

Everyone knows St. Peter was the first pope, which means St. Linus (who reigned from 67 to 76) was St. Peter's first successor.

Following that logic and according to some counts, Pope Francis is the 266th pope, the 265th successor of St. Peter.

However, as James Hitchcock, author of "History of the Catholic Church," clarified for ZENIT, "Stephen II in the eighth century died before he was installed as pope. Some lists count him and some do not."

Thus, Pope Francis is considered by some the 267th pope, the 266th successor of St. Peter.

(Abstract from Zenit – March 14, 2013)

We Have A Pope

White smoke signaled from the Vatican's Sistine Chapel at 2.10 am (Thursday). The new Pope appeared at the balcony at St Peter's Basilica within an hour of the vote. "Harbemus Papem" means we have Pope. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (from Argentina) has been elected as the 266th Pope. He takes the name of the new pontiff as Pope Francis I. He is the first South American Pope.

Born: Dec. 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Education: Studied at Theological Faculty of San Miguel. Received licentiate in philosophy.

Ordained for the Jesuits on Dec. 13, 1969.

Ordained titular bishop of Auca and auxiliary of Buenos Aires on June 27, 1992.

Became archbishop of Buenos Aires on Feb. 28, 1998.

Received title ordinary for the Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an ordinary in their own rite on Nov. 30, 1998.
Proclaimed cardinal by Pope John Paul II on Feb. 21, 2001.

Participated in conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005.

He speaks his native language Spanish, Bergoglio and also Italian and German.

He specialises in pastoral work and spends his entire carrier in Argentina. A humble and down to earth man. A Pope for the poor. He was immediately acclaimed as a pope of many firsts: the first Jesuit pope, the first pope of the Americas, and also the first to choose the name Francis.

The Mass for the inauguration of his pontificate is scheduled for March 19, next Tuesday, the feast of St. Joseph, the husband of Mary.

WHAT NAME WILL THE NEW POPE TAKE?

Pope John Paul II

The election to pick a new Pope has begun. Whoever is picked up, what choice of name will be? What will the new pontiff choose?

a) Pope Pius XII (1939-1958) was a very conservative man. If the new Pope were to call himself Pius XIII, it would be a very ideological choice and conservative as well.

b) Pope John XXIII was well-known for calling the Second Vatican Council in 1962. He brought great changes in the Roman Catholic Church’s in relation to the modern world. If the new Pope named himself John XXIV then the Church may have another reformation and the call for the Third Vatican Council.

c) Pope John Paul I (August 1978) was the first to create a composite name, in tribute to the two of his predecessors (John XXIII and Paul VI who had led the Church through 2^nd Vatican Council). Karol Wojtyla from Poland made him the first non-Italian Pope since 16^th Century picked up the name John Paul II (1978-2005). If the next Pope were taking the name         of John Paul III then the Church will continue to take the stock of Vatican II’s legacy and cross the threshold in the modern world through the New Evangalisation.

    d) Pope Benedict XVI (2005-2013) was an authoritarian and conservative, too but he placed his ministry in the footsteps of Jesus, in the service of reconciliation and harmony between peoples. If whoever wishes to follow in the footsteps of Benedict XV & XVI, it may help to spread the Christianity in Europe because the founder of the Benedictine order of monks was a patron saint of Europe.

    e) Only one Pope, Adrian VI in the 16th Century, has kept his baptismal name.

    f)  One thing is very sure – the new Pope will not be addressed as Peter I. This is out of respect for the first St Peter, the Apostle

In the next few days there will be a tendency to guess who will be elected and what name will the new pope take?  Will the next be called – Pius XIII, Paul VII, John Paul III or Benedict XVII?

Pope Benedict XVI

Pope John Paul I

Pope Paul VI

Pope John XXIII

Pope Pius XII

Pope Adrian VI 

World Youth Day Cross

WORLD YOUTH DAY (WYD) CROSS

Centro San Lorenzo, the Youth Center was established in March 13^th, 1983. It has been an official home of the original World Youth Day (WYD) Cross. It was founded by Blessed John Paul II. Blessed JP II was known for his love of the youth and he entrusted them to have a genuine role within the mission of the Church. The youth were challenged by John Paul II to bring everybody in the world and testify that, without Christ, there is no redemption. Today, we celebrate its 30^th anniversary simultaneously with the Conclave to elect a new pope, let’s pray on this anniversary of the WYD Cross that hope comes from the Cross and the victory is won by Christ forever.

Hand Written Letters and Thank You Notes

Over the last few years, hand-written letters and thank you notes are no longer popular among our people. I still treasure and keep many hand-written thank you or greeting notes and letters in my boxes which I received from people that I know or respected. Presently, we do receive greetings or notes via ‘sms’ or e-mails but I think it's not enough. These messages and greetings often get deleted but these hand written letters and notes are usually kept and treasured. And for those of us who are sentimental, from time to time we like to take them out and read them again as they often bring back fond memories of people we have met and the friendship that we share. Hand written letters and thank you notes are something simple, has a powerful impact and is personalised. It doesn’t cost a lot of money to send a personally written thank you note or letter. Sad to say that in this digital age and with different types of social media available people are beginning to lose touch with the art of letter writing by hand or of sending personal handwritten notes, no one bothers to actually sit and take the time to write something by hand. Even greetings are often copied from the website and nothing is original. This is my opinion. What is yours? I would love to hear your feedback.