HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, of Argentina, has a big job ahead for him – but, luckily, students at Holy Family Regional Catholic School in Huntsville have some advice for him -- and will be watching to see how he leads.
The choice of Bergoglio fulfills the hopes of Sam Farley, an eighth grader at Holy Family. Farley and his classmates have been studying the process of electing the pope.
“I hope it’s someone who knows a lot of languages – and someone who knows the people, who’s been around regular people,” Farley said just before the noontime election of Bergoglio was announced Wednesday, March 13, 2013. “I think he should travel to poorer countries to help them and pray for them.”
As a cardinal, Bergoglio, who is fluent in Spanish, Italian, Latin and German, cemented a reputation for humility by refusing the fancy apartment available to bishops. He lived instead in a smaller room, using public transportation, and cooking his own meals.
“If I were pope, I would work to bring all the religions together,” said Juan Gordillo,
“If I were Catholic, I would make a law that Catholics should not start war between each other,” said Quinny Ruiz.
“I think he should help the church start more charities to help people in poorer countries,” said Abby Sexton.
“I think he should tell companies to put aside greed and donate money to charity,” Gordillo said. “And he should tell people to pray for guidance and try to do something good for the community.”
“And help animals, especially the ones that are endangered,” said Tyresse Collins.
“And, if I were pope, I would make a rule that all Catholic people should wear crimson and white,” said Monty Rice, a fan of the University of Alabama.
“What religious significance does that have?” his teacher asked.
“Red for the blood of Jesus and white for the resurrection,” Rice said, thinking fast.
Father Joseph Lubrano
The hopes of nearly one-sixth of the world’s population rest directly on the shoulders of the new pope, and the eyes of most people in the world will be watching to see how he leads the Church.
"My hope," said Father Joseph Lubrano, pastor at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, "is that the new pope is very pastoral and inclusive. And that he will listen."
Lubrano, who worked with Cardinal Timothy Dolan when Dolan was archbishop in Milwaukee, would have been happy to see Dolan elected, he said before Bergoglio's selection was announced. Lubrano remembers Dolan as a gregarious, joyful leader.
But the vitality and growth of the Catholic Church in South America, Africa and Asia, means that having a leader who reflects the church’s international nature will be good.
DeKarlos Blackmon, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Peter Claver and a music minister at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Huntsville, Ala., works with Father Joseph Lubrano, at left, to hook up the TV in the parish office conference room on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, in time to see the first papal blessing from Pope Francis I. (Kay Campbell / KCampbell@al.com)
“There have been all sorts of conjectures – if the new pope would be from Africa or Canada or Asia, because there are many more cardinals from those countries now,” Lubrano said. “That really shows the changing face of the church.”
Lubrano, along with DeKarlos Blackmon, music minister at St. Joseph's and also the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Peter Claver, a nationwide Catholic service organization especially for African-American men, joined others in the parish office at St. Joseph's Wednesday to watch the TV news feeds from St. Peter's Square in Rome.
But the face of the pope matters less than the heart, Blackmon said.
“The Knights of Peter Claver just are praying for a good and holy man, a pastoral man to meet the needs of the universal church,” Blackmon said.
And no matter who the new bishop of Rome is, Father Lubrano said just before the new pope stepped on to the balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square, his boss will remain the same.
“The Big Boss doesn’t change,” Lubrano said, smiling and pointing at the heavens. “And the Holy Spirit is running the church. Even when I don’t know the Holy Spirit is running it, the Holy Spirit is in charge."
Kay Campbell, religion reporter for The Huntsville Times and www.al.com , can be reached at KCampbell@al.com and 256-532-4320. Follow her on Twitter @KayTimes.