First signs to Europe

Within a minute of his appearance on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday 13 March, Pope Francis deliberately spoke first ‘urbi’ rather than ‘orbi’. In identifying himself as Bishop of Rome, the new pope stressed that essential bond between himself and the city of which he was now bishop. He must have realised that, as its new pastor, he was also, ex officio, Rome’s first citizen. He became, by the same token, a citizen of Europe.The new pope is a native of Argentina and as both priest and bishop has lived and worked primarily in his native country. His links with Europe are, however, strong. The son of emigrants from Piedmont, during his time as a Jesuit priest he had studied in Germany and, after his time as provincial superior of his order, he came to Dublin in June 1979 to improve his English. The bursar’s ledger at Milltown Park, the Jesuit theology institute in Dublin, records that a young Jesuit in training was given £14 to take Father Bergoglio out for the day.Buenos Aires was always considered the Paris of the southern hemisphere and, of all South American countries, Argentina was viewed the most European in lifestyle and outlook. Even if as yet our new pope has been careful about declaring his cards, his strong sense of now belonging to the church and city of Rome would suggest that he will want to be considered a European too.Early signs indicate that Francis is establishing his own style. No doubt, though, in the cool gardens of Castel Gandolfo over the summer, he will open the history books to see how his predecessors negotiated their way through the pressing issues of their day. Among other things he will discover that, especially from the time of Paul VI, the popes interested themselves in and promoted the European project.Just as it will take Pope Francis a year or two to adjust to the inverted world of the Northern hemisphere, he will need time to acquaint himself with the political landscape of Europe and get a grip on how the European Union works. But already there is every reason to believe that our new pope has his finger on Europe’s pulse. He has drawn our attention, for example, to the plight of the ‘new poor’, the victims of the economic crisis.At the risk of putting words into the Holy Father’s mouth, it is clear that he is already challenging us all in Europe to address the collateral damage of the bankers’ folly. This is an issue already studied by Caritas Europa. among other bodies, and raised by COMECE at the highest political level. For any European citizen with a conscience and for politicians with any sense of the common good, this matter is bound to feature prominently in the endless economic and finance negotiations ahead, and in the election campaign of 2014.(*) General Secretary Comece (Europe Infos)