Cardinal Parolin on anniversary of Francis'
pontificate
(Vatican Radio). Jorge Bergoglio became the
266th Pope on March 13, 2013. His humble and direct style was
immediately clear as he uttered his first words as pontiff: “buona sera.”
Four years on, his reform of the Church and of the Curia
ploughs ahead, he continues to enjoy the acclaim of cheering crowds every
Wednesday at the weekly General Audience and at all public appearances, his
call for mercy and his openness and pastoral outreach towards the peripheries
and towards the most vulnerable stand out as constant traits of his ministry.
The past year of France’s pontificate has given us
unforgettable moments and important teachings such as the historic embrace with
the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in Cuba, his silent prayer in Auschwitz,
the canonization of Mother Teresa, his ecumenical journey to Lund to mark the
500th anniversary of the Reformation, the publishing of his Apostolic
Exhortation “Amoris Laetitia”, to name but a few.
The Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, one
of Pope Francis’ closest collaborators looked back on the year gone by with
Vatican Radio’s Alessandro Gisotti starting with that unique
“buona sera” with which the new Bishop of Rome greeted his flock asking it for
prayers, thus entrusting himself not only to the Lord, but to “the holy
people of God”.
It was immediately clear, Parolin said, that his vision of a
Church going forth, of walking together – shepherd and flock – entrusted to
prayer and to the grace and the mercy of God, would be important
characteristics of the new Pontificate. A trait that Bergoglio reinforced with
the choice of the name “Francis” and his attitude which exudes simplicity,
peace and serenity.
Cardinal Parolin highlighted the fact that although Pope
Francis continues to call for a Church that goes forth and that is able to
accompany men and women in the difficulties and challenges of everyday life, he
does so always attentive to the voice and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
He also pointed out that although the Jubilee Year of Mercy
is concluded, mercy continues to be one of the pillars of Frances’ pontificate.
He explained however that the Pope’s insistence on mercy does not derive from a
personal sensitivity, but focuses attention on God’s love and on the mystery of
salvation.
“The Pope, Parolin said, is directing us to God’s love and
making sure the Church acts as a channel for that love and a place of encounter
between God’s mercy and man as he lives the concrete joys and sorrows of
life on earth.”
Parolin also said that the fruits the Year of Mercy have
yielded are many including the ‘re-discovery’ on the part of many Christians of
the Sacrament of Confession and a heightened attention towards situations of
poverty and need.
Regarding the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation “Amoris
Laetitia”, Parolin described it as a gift that has given great impulse to the
pastoral ministry of the family, and has produced fruits of renewal, hope and
accompaniment for those in fragile family situations.
Cardinal Parolin also mentioned the reality of some
criticism towards the Church and expressions of dissent saying “there have
always been critical voices in the Church!”
The important thing, he said, as the Pope himself says is
that they be “sincere and constructive, and willing to find a way to make
progress together and a better way of putting God’s will to work!”
At the heart of Pope Francis’s pontificate, Parolin
concluded, is the desire to continue to reform the Curia because he believes
that – to use an evangelical word – “the Church must continuously seek
conversion, it must strive to be evermore authentic, get rid of the crusts
accumulated in centuries of history and shine forth with the transparency of
the Gospel”.
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