How the pope chose his name: 'Francis was a man of the poor'

[freshwest]

The new pope reveals why he chose to be called Francis to a media audience in the Vatican on Saturday. He says he was reminded 'not to forget about the poor' as he discovered he was voted as the new pope, so he named himself after St. Francis of Assisi, 'the man of the poor'. The speech is the first indication the new pope, an Argentinian, wants a more austere Catholic Church.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2013/mar/16/pope-name-francis-poor-video

Some people on DU were speculating about why he picked his name, some with negative fears and others with positive ones. I believe this is very good. The video doesn't work for me, some may be able to see it at the link. Here is another story on the same page that goes farther into the expected changes:

Pope Francis, the radical from Flores who will 'reshape' Catholic church

Former colleagues and parishioners say disciplined and divine Jesuit will reform power structure, strictly control finances, and check Vatican pomp.

The ascension of Pope Francis is likely to usher in the most radical change in the Catholic church in more than 50 years, claim those who know the Argentinian Jesuit from the barrio of Buenos Aires where he was born and cut his political teeth.

Zero tolerance of sexual abuse, stricter control of church finances, a shift away from Eurocentrism, more emphasis on poverty, and a ruthless purge of high-ranking opponents in the Vatican can be expected in the years ahead, according to priests and laymen who have spent decades watching the career of the first Latin American pope...

Domingo Bresci, a priest who studied with Bergoglio in the 50s and later worked with him in Flores, said the new pope was not a person to take half measures.

Holding up a copy of Fridays' La Nación newspaper with the headline "The Revolution of Francisco: Humility and Austerity", Bresci said the world should brace for a transformation of one of its oldest and most conservative religions.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/16/pope-francis-radical-reshape-catholic-church

[lovemydog]

1. Caring for the poor

and helping them.

I truly hope he is successful in his efforts.

[freshwest]

2. Saint Francis of Assisi had a great reputation:

Nature and the environment

Many of the stories that surround the life of St. Francis deal with his love for animals.[36] Perhaps the most famous incident that illustrates the Saint's humility towards nature is recounted in the "Fioretti" ("Little Flowers&quot , a collection of legends and folklore that sprang up after the Saint's death. It is said that, one day, while Francis was travelling with some companions, they happened upon a place in the road where birds filled the trees on either side. Francis told his companions to "wait for me while I go to preach to my sisters the birds."[36] The birds surrounded him, intrigued by the power of his voice, and not one of them flew away. He is often portrayed with a bird, typically in his hand.

Another legend from the Fioretti tells that in the city of Gubbio, where Francis lived for some time, was a wolf "terrifying and ferocious, who devoured men as well as animals." Francis had compassion upon the townsfolk, and so he went up into the hills to find the wolf. Soon, fear of the animal had caused all his companions to flee, though the saint pressed on. When he found the wolf, he made the sign of the cross and commanded the wolf to come to him and hurt no one. Miraculously the wolf closed his jaws and lay down at the feet of St. Francis. "Brother Wolf, you do much harm in these parts and you have done great evil," said Francis. "All these people accuse you and curse you...But brother wolf, I would like to make peace between you and the people." Then Francis led the wolf into the town, and surrounded by startled citizens made a pact between them and the wolf. Because the wolf had “done evil out of hunger, the townsfolk were to feed the wolf regularly. In return, the wolf would no longer prey upon them or their flocks. In this manner Gubbio was freed from the menace of the predator. Francis even made a pact on behalf of the town dogs, that they would not bother the wolf again. Finally, to show the townspeople that they would not be harmed, Francis blessed the wolf.

Francis preached the teaching of the Catholic Church, that the world was created good and beautiful by God but suffers a need for redemption because of the primordial sin of man. He preached to man and beast the universal ability and duty of all creatures to praise God (a common theme in the Psalms) and the duty of men to protect and enjoy nature as both the stewards of God's creation and as creatures ourselves.[36]

On November 29, 1979, Pope John Paul II declared St. Francis to be the Patron of Ecology.[37]

Then during the World Environment Day 1982, he said that St. Francis' love and care for creation was a challenge for contemporary Catholics and a reminder "not to behave like dissident predators where nature is concerned, but to assume responsibility for it, taking all care so that everything stays healthy and integrated, so as to offer a welcoming and friendly environment even to those who succeed us." The same Pope wrote on the occasion of the World Day of Peace, January 1, 1990, the saint of Assisi "offers Christians an example of genuine and deep respect for the integrity of creation..." He went on to make the point that St Francis: "As a friend of the poor who was loved by God's creatures, Saint Francis invited all of creation – animals, plants, natural forces, even Brother Sun and Sister Moon – to give honor and praise to the Lord. The poor man of Assisi gives us striking witness that when we are at peace with God we are better able to devote ourselves to building up that peace with all creation which is inseparable from peace among all peoples."[38]

Pope John Paul II concluded that section of the document with these words, "It is my hope that the inspiration of Saint Francis will help us to keep ever alive a sense of 'fraternity' with all those good and beautiful things which Almighty God has created."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi

This is sdifferent from people who say the Earth with its flora and fauna is just here to be used, without any regard for them. We are going into a rough period in which we must value all life on this planet instead of wealth and power. Hoping for the best.

[cbayer]

3. I heard a story yesterday that by not chosing the name of a previous pope

he was making a solid statement about changing direction.

The more I learn, the more I become hopeful for change.

[gopiscrap]

4. Yup I like that...just wish he would see his way to

equality for women's role in the church

[okasha]

5. Women and LGBT.

But I think he has no choice but to deal with the sexual abuse scandals first.

[hrmjustin]

6. I hope he moves the church in a more progressive direction.

[kentauros]

7. All of that stuff takes time.

He may still do that, among other concerns, though I don't "know" him like others around here. I like him, though he's not perfect. He's still way better than the one before him.

It's unfortunate that after he does something positive, that there's always the detractor around here (here = DU) saying it's not enough until all of their ideals are met. Even then, it would never be enough.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

8. I have to agree

On the Religion forum, there are some pissing and moaning because Pope Francis condemned abortion. Did anyone really think he would not?