Indian Religious welcome Jesuit pope

The forum of Religious in India has welcomed the election of Jesuit Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as pope saying "the charism of religious life rediscovered" can bring about change and growth in the Church.

The Conference of Religious India (CRI), with its 130,000 active religious, "welcomes the new Holy Father with love and affection, as well as prayerful communion of heart and mind," said an e-mail from Brother Mani Mekkunnel, CRI national secretary.

The new pope took Francis as his name after Bro. Francis of Assisi and "prayed for brotherhood in the Church, indicating a shift from the excessive preoccupation with the hierarchical structure of the Church with all its paraphernalia," the March 14 mail said.

While speaking to the gathering for first time as pope, he addressed people as "brothers and sisters" and bowed down before them asking them "to bless him before he blessed them, indicating a change of perception."

The BBC headlined it as “Pope Francis calls for ‘brotherhood’ in the Church," Brother Mani said.

"History has demonstrated again and again that the charism of religious life rediscovered can bring about sustainable change and growth in the Church in terms of its holiness, and effectiveness of her mission," he said.

St. Benedict and St. Francis who were religious Brothers, and St. Ignatius are examples of such historical achievements, he said asking: "Is the Holy Spirit indicating in this direction?"

The 76-year old pope may have less time due to his age, but his identity as a religious and at one time Major Superior, "can find a positive chord for bonding" with the catholic religious, the letter said.

He said the election of the Argentinean shows the cardinal electors'  "search went beyond Europe."

"They had grown tired of secularized Europe, are not comfortable with relaxed North America, are not confident of conservative leadership of Africa, are suspicious of inter-religious Asia, and even diffident of South America where many have been leaving the Church. The later is an option for the poor, which is indicated by the person chosen as well. It is bound to bring a new enthusiasm to a weakened church," Brother Mani said.

Source: ucanews.com (Mar. 15, 2013)