Pope Francis "has a lot of the parish priest in him"

Pope Francis "has a lot of the parish priest in him"

(Vatican Radio) In an interview with Vatican Radio on the first day of the Pope’s Apostolic Voyage to Poland, Greg Burke, the deputy director of the Holy See Press Office, said Pope Francis has “a lot of the parish priest in him.”

Burke said the Pope’s meeting with Poland’s Bishops was kept private to maintain the atmosphere of “a family gathering,” offering the Holy Father to speak freely, in confidence, with the leaders of the local Church. But, he continued, “most of what the Pope says” in meetings with local Bishops revolves around common themes of Francis’ papacy. “It’s about being a pastor, being a father. One of the main things he talked about is being close to your people,” a theme he returned to more than once. Burke said the Pope is at his best when he speaks “off-the-cuff” – “It was very uplifting.”

Burke also noted that “two-pronged” nature of the Pope’s Apostolic Voyage, focusing on his visit to Poland and on the events of World Youth Day. In particular, Burke spoke about the legacy of St John Paul II, St Faustina, and the devotion to Divine Mercy, on the one hand; and, on the other, Pope Francis with the Jubilee of Mercy and his insistence on performing acts of mercy. With regard to young people, Burke said, “World Youth Day, I think, is just something that gets the Pope excited… He obviously gets very revved up with young people.”

www.en.radioaticana.va