Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has been elected the 266th pope, making him the leader of the 1.2 billion-strong Roman Catholic Church. He took the name Francis, not after fellow Jesuit St. Francis Xavier, but rather, after St. Francis of Assisi.
The 76-year-old new Pope is from Buenos Aires and is the first Jesuit and the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years.
So what has happened to St. Malachy’s prophecy about Benedict XVI being followed by Petrus Romanus or Peter the Roman. There’s not a single indication that such appellation can be applied to the new pope, except from the farfetched fact that the Pope is also the bishop of Rome.
I have no answer as of this moment. What I know is that some observers have maintained that St. Malachy’s prophecy seemed to have indicated a pause between Benedict XVI and Peter the Roman. Meaning the saint did not count as legitimate those between?
Or perhaps, as in the case of other past popes identified by St. Malachy in descriptive Latin phrases, the link between his description and the pope would came later, although so far always undeniably.
Would events in the papacy of Francis eventually lead to his being named Peter the Roman? Would some symbolism in his reign identify him as such?
I am not about to dismiss St. Malachy’s list of 112 popes since his 12th century era. His prophecy has been so far too accurate to merit shelving.
At this point, prayers are needed for the new Pope who, by all indications, is the leader the Catholic world, nay, the entire world needs.
Fr. Larry Sarmiento, spokesperson of the San Fernando Archdiocese, said he was deeply affected by Pope Francis I’s humility, simplicity and ordinariness.
“He is sending us a message for change, especially among us priests,” he said.
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And now here’s the message conveyed by the Blessed Virgin Mary to Medjugorje visionary Mirjana only last March 2:
“Dear children: Again, in a motherly way, I am calling you not to be of a hard heart. Do not shut your eyes to the warnings which the Heavenly Father sends to you out of love. Do you love Him above all else?
Do you repent for having often forgotten that the Heavenly Father, out of His great love, sent His Son to redeem us by the Cross?
“Do you repent for not having accepted the message? My children, do not resist the love of my Son. Do not resist hope and peace. Along with your prayers and fasting, by His Cross, my Son will cast away the darkness that wants to surround you and come to rule over you.
He will give you the strength for a new life. Living it according to my Son, you will be a blessing and a hope to all those sinners who wander in the darkness of sin.
My children, keep vigil. I, as a mother, am keeping vigil with you. I am especially praying and watching over those whom my Son called to be light-bearers and carriers of hope for you – for your shepherds. Thank you.”
