Our new Holy Father has taken the name Francis. Along with many others I have suggested that he was thinking of St Francis of Assisi. Quite a few people have said that since he is a Jesuit, he may have been thinking of St Francis Xavier. But why not St Francis Borgia?or:
St Francis Caracciolo
St Francis de Sales
St Francis of Paola
St Francis Solano
St Francesco Antonio Fasani
or:
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos
Blessed Francisco Martos
Blessed Francis Faà di Bruno
or even possibly:
St Frances of Rome
St Frances Xavier Cabrini
I still think it most likely that he was thinking of St Francis of Assisi, but he may also have had St Francis Xavier in mind - but why not also St Francis Borgia who, along with St Pius V and St Charles Borromeo showed how corruption in the Church can be overcome by sanctity. (St Francis Borgia, sometimes known as the second founder of the Jesuits, was the grandson of Pope Alexander VI.)
5 comments:
Someone at the Vatican clarified and said St Francis of Assissi, that it was his mother's favorite saint and it warmed him as a boy to Il Poverello.
Cardinal Dolan has confermed that the name is inspired by Francis of Assisi Pope Francis told the cardinals after taking the new name.
It is a good day, whomsoever is his patron. I presumed either Assisi or Xavier; Assisi for his obvious connection with the natural world, Xavier for his links to Asia, particularly India and Japan.
Other's have talked of his election in political terms. This is a shame and foments schism. His 'coming second' to Benedict XVI in 2005 merely (I hope) reflects the cardinals' realisation that Ratzinger as pope was an opportunity not to be missed, but the Argentine was nearly as good.
In keeping with St Benedict, surely one must consider the role St Francis of Assissi had not only in the restoration of the Church but also on the whole of Europe. Just another way our Holy Father is closer to Pope Emeritus Benedict than the current press coverage would have us think.
If it is 'Francis of Assisi' then there is a deeper symbolism. Francis' mission from the start was 'Go, rebuild my temple'. Innocent III saw Francis, the little poor man, holding up St. John Lateran as it was about to collapse, just before Francis appeared before him. Perhaps this will be Pope Francis' mission too: rebuild the temple, restore the Church to holiness of life, restore her liturgy and bring in a new era. Perhaps this will be the Pope of St. John Bosco's dream who will bring us peace through devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and to the Mother of God.
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