Habemus Papam!
The announcement that our new Holy Father, chosen by the Holy Spirit is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis I is such joyful news!
This humble man from Argentina has shown great strength in speaking out against the attacks on life and family in his own country, where there have been many.
Poignantly for New Zealand, Argentina legalised same-sex marriage in 2010. At the time
Cardinal Bergoglio wrote to the monastaries of Beunus Aries saying
Let’s not be naive, we’re not talking about a simple political battle; it is a destructive pretension against the plan of God. We are not talking about a mere bill, but rather a machination of the Father of Lies that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God.
He has also spoken out publicly against abortion and euthanasia. In a speech in 2007 he said
“we aren’t in agreement with the death penalty,” but “in Argentina we have the death penalty. A child conceived by the rape of a mentally ill or retarded woman can be condemned to death.”
In Pope Francis, we have a humble man (shown already by his request that the people pray for him, as he stood on the balcony), who will continue the great Tradition of the teaching Church; who will continue to teach the sacredness of life, of marriage, of family; and who will steer the barque of Peter through the stormy waves of these times.
Thanks be to God!