Pope Francis once stated that he reads the Bible in the evening, in a way to be inspired, but also to relax. And sometimes he falls asleep on it, but that in passing. That is only natural, after such a day’s work as a pope has to cope with, especially when he is no longer a very young man. Jose Mario Bergoglio is now 85.
Especially since sometimes trend-setting thoughts come to you in your sleep through what you have read. To paraphrase an old saying: Man sleeps, God directs. His will decides. Certainly Francis, a pious man, is guided by this. And beyond that of everything that he himself had to direct on the chair of Peter, as representative on earth, over the many days since assuming the pontificate in 2013.
This includes the two-day gathering of cardinals from all continents that has now begun, the first since 2015. A good 180 of the 226 cardinals worldwide will have come to discuss Francis’ major project, the Curia reform. It’s about organizing the headquarters in Rome with around 3,000 employees. The Curia was a thorn in Francis’ side from the start.
A new constitution was presented in March, “Predicate Gospel” – proclaims the Gospel – with 250 paragraphs on 54 pages. If you like: the real message of the Argentine, which should outlast him. Now that has to be put into action. Daily work, with effect far beyond the day. In the future, more lay people, more women and more professionals are to work in the Vatican, even at the top of the ministries.
The hierarchy also changes. It is not the doctrine of the faith that comes first, but the spread of the faith – and the Pope himself will manage this department. And the so-called alms office is also upgraded to a clear fight against poverty in the world.
There are also new cardinals, this time 20. Francis ignores traditions in his selection, instead appointing clergymen from East Timor, Singapore, Mongolia, for example the one who has been working as a missionary in Ulan Bator for years. Giorgio Marengo is 48, the youngest cardinal.
It is the cardinals who help determine the future of the church in a conclave; those under 80 elect the pope. This pope has now appointed 83 cardinals, predecessor Benedict XVI. 38, John Paul II eleven. In any case, the electoral body stands for everything that may come.
And that can come: a resignation. Yes, another one after that of the German Pope, who was already a sensation. Francis is no longer physically fit, often uses a wheelchair, and even makes some public references.
He has just prayed at the tomb of the Pope who was the first to resign in Church history: Celestine V in 1294. Benedict XVI. also prayed at this grave before his resignation in 2013. And Francis recently said with regard to a retreat: “The door is open, it is one of the normal options.” He had not yet thought of going through this door, but “God will decide”. Perhaps the tenth year of the pontificate, 2023.
Can there be two former popes side by side in Rome? Yes – after all, Francis does not want to be “pope emeritus”, but if so, then “bishop emeritus of Rome”.
