Yesterday evening was six months since the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, sj as bishop of Rome, an event that is producing many surprises, of which the first was his choice of name, Francis.
I want to reflect on the significance of this election that occurred in the middle of a Year of Faith called by Benedict XVI for the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.
It is already clear that the new bishop of Rome will present many challenges to the Catholic Church, challenges whose ripples will no doubt also be felt in other Christian communions. |