‘Church teachings not about personalities’

Little known Jorge Mario Bergoglio last Wednesday shot to the top of the Catholic Church after he was elected leader of the 1.2 billion Catholics. Some Catholics and members of other faiths were stunned by the choice of Bergoglio after bookmakers had trained their spotlight on other candidates. PAIDA MPASOtalks to secretary general of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi Father George Buleya to give his reactions to election of Pope Francis 1.

To many people, Jorge Mario Bergoglio came like a bolt from the blue to take up the papacy. Were you surprised by his election?

I was not surprised because I did not have any preferred candidate in my mind. In a way, it is good that he came like a bolt from the blue, lending weight to the conviction of the Catholic Church that Popes are chosen by the power and intervention of the Holy Spirit. Whoever is chosen is the right person for the time!

What do you know about the new pope as a person and Catholic?

I do not know much about him but I am told he is a very intelligent man, deeply spiritual, and leading a life of simplicity.

What do you think are the critical issues that will immediately occupy the mind of Pope Francis 1?

Oh, I wish I would know! One thing I know, though, is that his primary duty will be to shepherd the 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide. He has already talked about the need for working together as one family and the need to focus the attention of the Church to the

Gospel.

Pope Francis 1 inherits a church beset by child sexual scandals, corruption in the Vatican and a dysfunctional Curia that needs reform. How should the pope address these issues?

Much as these issues are serious, I am not quite sure if the Church is ‘beset’ by these issues. I am quite sure though that the Pope will continue the work of his predecessors of fighting evil forces within and outside the Church.

With Pope Francis 1 at the helm of the church, do you expect major changes in the way the church will deal with contentious issues such as contraception and ordination of women priests?

I do not know how he will deal with these issues but one thing I know is that the teaching of the Church does not largely depend on personalities; it draws on the truth as revealed to us through the Scriptures and the tradition of the Catholic Church handed down from generation to generation right from the time of St. Peter, the first Pope.

What is your message to Catholics in Malawi on the ascent of Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new leader of the Catholic Church?

Catholics should, as they are already doing, rejoice that a new shepherd has been found in the name of the present Pope. They should, in humility, rejoice that they belong to this worldwide community of 1.2 billion Catholics which through the unbroken succession of Popes dating back to the time of the Apostles has made unparalleled contribution to humanity’s relationship with God and the world. They should continue to pray for the emeritus Pope, the present Pope and the whole Church.