With the installation of Pope Francis as Bishop of Rome, support and encouragement poured out for the new leader of the Catholic Church from all over the world, including from a couple of world travelers with ties to the Camden Diocese.
“I am encouraged by the election of Pope Francis,” Msgr. James Checchio, a priest of the Diocese of Camden who is currently rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome, said in an email message.
“His inaugural Mass was inspiring, and his selfless service of and concern for others seems contagious. I’m certainly praying that he may instruct us by his virtuous life and enlighten our minds with the truth of the Gospels.”
Msgr. Checchio also reflected on the responsibility of the cardinal electors in choosing Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as pope.
“Having had the U.S. cardinals staying with us at the Pontifical North American College, we had a unique window into the work of the Holy Spirit amongst the cardinal electors,” he said.
“One could sense the weightiness of what they were about to do, and a spirit of prayer was certainly evident as the days of the actual conclave approached. Afterward, when they returned to the college the night of the election, after having had dinner with the new Holy Father, they were very joyful.”
Father Felipe Doldan, parochial vicar at Infant Jesus Parish in Woodbury Heights, grew up in Rosario, Argentina, four hours north of Buenos Aires, where Pope Francis served as a cardinal. For more than 25 years, Father Doldan has split his time between the Camden Diocese and the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, where he teaches in the School of Theology.
He remembers the former Cardinal Bergoglio visiting the university at least once a year, and the time the cardinal, after hearing that Father Doldan would be hearing confessions, reminded him to “be merciful” to his flock.
“Pope Francis was firm, but very easy to talk to, and approachable,” Father Doldan said.
When he heard that the Argentinian cardinal was named pope, he got “emotional,” he said. The pope will “revive certain areas of the Catholic world, in Latin America,” Father Doldan said, calling the pope’s election “a great opportunity to stress the importance of the Christian message in daily life.”
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