Interesting article on the choice of name
 

Written by a Jesuit - http://www.slate.com/articles/life/f...suit_name.html


"Besides, the name Francis telegraphs something in a way that our founder’s name does not: poverty, simplicity of life, care for the poor. Of course St. Ignatius was famously poor and Jesuits worldwide take a vow of poverty, but “Francis” is better shorthand for the church of the poor, something the new pope would mention in one of his first public remarks."

^^^ Interesting and thoughtful article. Thanks for posting it.

Another interesting article on his description to journalists of how he chose the name:

He recalled how on Wednesday night, as he was receiving more and more votes in the conclave, the cardinal sitting next to him, Claudio Hummes of Brazil, comforted him "as the situation became dangerous".

After the voting reached the two-thirds majority that elected him, applause broke out. Hummes, 78, then hugged and kissed him and told him "Don't forget the poor", the pope recounted, often gesturing with his hands.

"That word entered here," he added, pointing to his head.

While the formal voting continued, the pope recalled: "I thought of wars .... and Francis (of Assisi) is the man of peace, and that is how the name entered my heart, Francis of Assisi, for me he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects others."

Full article here.

And like you, I think it's wonderful news that the Ecumenical Patriarch will attend the inaugural mass tomorrow. That, coupled with a number of articles I have read on Cardinal Borgoglio's relations with Protestants in Argenitina, gives me hope for the possibility of greater unity among Christians.

Gay marriage and Adoption rights.
 

Back in Argentina, Archbishop Bergoglio supported gay civil unions and told his priests to do so as well. He also asked the government for more comprehensive civil union laws. He just asked for the civil unions not to be called marriage. When the government disregarded civil unions and started to lobby for gay marriage, he did become the strongest voice against it.

As for the adoption quote, he didn't say "abuse," he called it "discrimination against children," since, from the Church's perspective, adoption is a right of the child (every child has the right to be raised by loving parents). No couple, not even heterosexual couples, have the right to adopt. Of course, for the Church, by "loving parents," they mean man and woman. "Every child has to right to have a mother and a father." For him, adoption of gay couples discriminate against this right of the child.

Right or wrong, he is indeed more open to dialogue than other church leaders, at least on this issue.

There is usually am Orthodox Bishop of Patriarchal rank at the Papal Inauguration, but I am surprised that the First Among Equals of the Orthodox Church himself is coming. I wonder if Archbishop Welby will be sending anybody/

There are usually (as in for the last few inaugural masses anyway) Anglican and Protestant representatives there, but since Welby's own enthronement as Archbishop of Canterbury is on Thursday, options of whom to send may be more limited.

Good Point. The Lord Williams of Oystermouth or the Primate of England (bonus points if you know who I mean) might be options, though the second one might be iffy since I don't how big a role he plays in the enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

It might depend on if the Right Honourable Lord Williams of Oystermouth still has his nose out of joint about the Anglican Ordinariate.

Right Reverend and Right Honourable Lord Williams of Oystermouth PC if you want to be technical. And if he is requested by the Queen or Archbishop he might be willing to represent the Church of England. The fact that he is the former Primate of two different provinces as well as the Communion would make him very attractive.

Well, given news reports of comments that Anglican Bishop Gregory Venables of Argentina says then-Cardinal Borgoglio made a few years back,* His Lordship might feel a little more inclined.


* I know that Bishop Venables says the comment has been blown out of proportion, and given the nature of these things, I wouldn't doubt that at all.

I would hope that now Pope Francis is cool with having us under his wing.

Statement from my parish website:
The following is from Monsignor Jeffrey N. Steenson, Ordinary of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter:
“The Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter joins Catholics worldwide in celebrating the election of our new Holy Father, Pope Francis. We pledge to him our prayers, solicitude and support as he begins his new ministry.
“As new Catholics, being a part of this moment in our faith's history is particularly poignant and reminds us of the consistent and constant presence of the Catholic Church in our world.
“St. Augustine reminded us of the significance and importance of the ministry of St. Peter, expressed in the office of the Pope: ‘After all, it is not just one man that received these keys, but the Church in its unity. So this is the reason for Peter’s acknowledged preeminence, that he stood for the Church’s universality and unity.’
“We in the Ordinariate, who have this unique and distinctive mission to work for Christian unity, welcome this successor to Peter and pledge to him our loyalty and prayers.”

+ Ebor, of course. ;)

And here's your answer.

Now if only I knew who would be representing the Reformed churches.

Quite a delegation, including a third of a Primate. I was right in that they selected the Archbishop of York. He was the logical choice if the Archbishop of Canterbury was unavailable. I do wonder who the LWF will send. Probably a representative from a church that has Bishops, but I wonder who.

Russian Orthodox
 

The Orthodox Church of Russia is sending Metropolitan Hilarion, First-Hierarch (Primate) of Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, while Oriental Orthodoxy will be represented by the Katolikós of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Karekin II.

Here is the article.