Over spring break, the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church appointed Pope Francis I as the new leader of the Church and all Catholics. Although this is big news for the Roman Catholic Church, especially after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, it is also important and significant for Creighton University.
“I had never in my wildest imagination [would] have thought that a Jesuit would ever be elected pope,” Fr. Michael Flecky, S.J., said.
This is not an unusual reaction as Pope Francis I is the first Jesuit to be appointed pope. This is significant for Creighton not only because it is a Jesuit institution, but also because many students participate in service and emphasize justice for those who are less fortunate.
“I am greatly encouraged to learn that Pope Francis is a man who has experience and concern for the poor and common people, is not fearful, has a sense of humor and openness…,” Flecky said.
Megan Lightfoot, a first year Pharmacy student and a member of the Catholic Student Organization, had this to say about a Jesuit pope:
“Pope Francis coming from the Society of Jesus is exciting, especially for students attending Jesuit schools. Pope Francis will be a true inspiration and example for all living out or studying Jesuit spirituality and the simplicity of St. Ignatius,” she said.
Since 1061, cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church have appointed 225 popes.
The world’s cardinals, 115 of them present at the time of Francis’ appointment, appoint the next Bishop of Rome, who also has the title of pope. The person who is appointed has to receive two-thirds of the vote. In this case, Pope Francis I received 77 votes, according to Rev. Dennis Hamm, S.J., a Creighton professor of theology.
Once the cardinals appoint the new Bishop of Rome, white smoke flows out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.
James Doyle, a College of Arts & Sciences sophomore and the formation leader of the Catholic Student Organization, was in Rome over spring break and was in St. Peter’s Square as the cardinals appointed and presented the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
“You could almost reach out and touch the excitement of the people….when the white smoke went up, the place just erupted,” he said.
He mentioned that there was so much joy and so much passion in St. Peter’s Square, even though it was raining all day.
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now known as Pope Francis I, is a pope of firsts. He is the first pope from the Western Hemisphere, more specifically, from Latin America.
The biggest Catholic population is in Latin America.
“I think this will be a game changer for Northern Hemisphere Catholics in the sense that his words and actions will be challenging to our comfort zones…,” Fr. Roc O’Connor, S.J., the rector of the Jesuit Community at Creighton University, said.
O’Connor was “immensely surprised that [the cardinals] chose someone outside of Europe.”
Although “John” and “Benedict” are the two most popular pope names, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio will be the first pope named “Francis,” after St. Francis of Assisi.
“And when the votes were up to two-thirds, there is the usual applause, because I was elected Pope,” Pope Francis I said to the media. “My friend hugged me, kissed me and told me: ‘Do not forget the poor.’ And that word entered me: the poor, the poor. Then, immediately, in relation to the poor I thought of Francis of Assisi.”
Poverty and the poor were central themes in St. Francis of Assisi’s life.
“[Pope Francis I] has a special concern for ordinary folks, especially the poor,” Hamm said. As archbishop of Buenos Aires he lived in an apartment, cooked for himself, and used public transportation to go to work.”
Several of the Jesuits and students on campus are excited to see what Pope Francis I’s leadership will bring to the Roman Catholic Church.
In terms of the pope’s influence on Creighton, O’Connor doesn’t think “he will help Creighton’s seed in the NCAA or recruiting of scholar-athletes…it’ll be interesting to see what sort of student might be attracted to CU in the wake of his election, really.”