Opinions & Interviews

Kondrusiewicz: Pope Francis is not the man who seeks fame

MINSK, 14 March (BelTA) - Pope Francis is not the man who seeks fame, Metropolitan of Minsk and Mogilev, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz told journalists on 14 March.

“I was fortunate to have met him on a number of occasions,” the Archbishop continued. "You could tell how humble, spiritual, religious he is. The person who is not seeking fame. God comes first and foremost for this person. And yesterday proved it again,” the Archbishop said as he reflected upon his meetings with the Pope.

He drew a special attention that the newly elected Pope wore a simple robe and a simple cross when he appeared in front of waiting people despite of his high profile status. Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz also emphasized that the Bishop lived in very modest conditions in Buenos Aires and would refuse to use a luxurious car.

Furthermore, Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz noted that it is only the third time in the history of the Catholic Church that the Pope denounced himself. The last time it happened was 600 years ago.

Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz clarified that Saint Francis whose name was elected by the new Pope, revolutionized the Church several centuries ago. The newly elected Pope came at rather difficult times full of bio-ethics, family and other issues. "We need to have a good pastor. The person who loves the church," noted Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz. And the new Pope is exactly that person,” he added

Elaborating further on this topic, Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz added that the election of the new Latin American Bishop took place at the time when 60% of the world's Catholics are people from Latin America. Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz added that in the past, when he was serving in Moscow, he met a priest from the congregation of the newly elected Pope, Cardinal Bergoglio. This clergy man was quite educated and knew a lot about medicine. He stayed to serve as a priest in Russia, Nizhny Novgorod. Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz said that the priest dedicated a lot of efforts for the well being of Russia and actively practiced social serving. The Belarusian hierarch added that when in Moscow, he had numerous opportunities to meet clergymen from Argentina. 

Finally Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz stated that following the election of the new Pope, mass media referred to him as Francis and Francis I. However, the official name was decided to be Pope Francis. The Pontiff can also be called Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Primate of Italy, Servant of the Servants of God, etc. "We see that now, during the first day of his pontificate he already became the servant of people," emphasized Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz.

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