It is the 10th anniversary of the assumption of Francis as Pope, the first Latin American Pope, with a different vision for the Church, for the world and, fundamentally, a commitment to the poorwith those most in need. And this is what marks the entire pastoral ministry of Pope Francis.
Like Bergoglio, in Argentina, in his duties as cardinal he would help the towns, work and share their hopes and needs with the poor.
Now, Pope Francis tries to renew, to give a new face to the Church. The commitment together with the poor reminds me of what was the Second Vatican Council and the Pact of the Catacombs called by Helder Cámara, where many bishops made a commitment to the poor not to have wealth and to share life as the Gospel teaches us . Pope Francis gives a testimony, permanently, for peace.
When he took office there were many misunderstandings. Luckily, they tried to make people understand who Pope Francis is and what he does in his pastoral ministry. He is fundamentally a Pastor who walks alongside the people of God and who goes to other countries with a broad ecumenical vision, but always from the roots of the Gospel. At 10 years old, he is showing that it is the grace of the Spirit that guides him.
I accompany him, I pray for him every day and I think that he is a man who is giving more hope in a situation of a conflictive world, with wars. The Pope’s voice is a voice heard in the world. And let us hope that his pastoral mission will bear fruit. He is giving them. To call the world on the need to live fraternally according to the message of the Gospel.
*Nobel Peace Prize.
by Adolfo Pérez Esquivel*
