And it was in a question about Portugal that Francis said the profile he wants for the next Pope
John XXIV: here is a Pope who does not exist. But here is a Pope named by Francis in the interview with TVI/CNN Portugal. There’s a lot of meaning in this
The Pope’s resignation is also the subject of rumors of analysis, as news about Francis’ health is known. No return from the recent trip to Canada, he was already warning that he was not in the health conditions to venture on trips like the one he would just do. In the interview with TVI and CNN Portugal, he gave an answer that is also being seen as a warning that resignation can be a scenario.
Asked by Maria Avilez about contacting João next year to travel to Portugal for the World Youth Day (WYD), he replied: “I plan on going. Oh daddy go. Either Francisco goes or John XXIV goes, but the Pope goes”.
Theologians and specialists specialized by CNN Portugal are unanimous in a look of humility, which is more than seeing in them a suggestion of a possible resignation, they warn the Pope about the profile he would like his successor to have.
“John XXIII was the Pope of the opening of the Church to the world. In suggesting the name XXIV, Francis is saying that he would like this path of dialogue, which he also traced, to be continued. John XXIII was the Pope of the global reform and Francis wants the continuation of this reform”, analyzes psychologist Henrique Pinto.
The journalist of TVIsaquim Franco, specialist in subjects of subjects and authors of books about the Pope, facing these words not as a message “the Pope no messages”, but as the manifestation of a desire. “He doesn’t need to send messages to the cardinals. He says what he thinks. Basically, he is telling the successor and the cardinals who elect him that he has to have the courage to carry out the reforms John XXIII sought to carry out and continue the path of dialogue that he himself traced”.
“Aware of their condition and their mission”
The priest and theologian Paulo Coelho highlights that we are before “the right Pope for the right time” and considers that his statements made to TVI and CNN Portugal are revealed “aware of the condition but also of his mission”. “Without speculation and without predictions”, Paulo Coelho recalls that the name of a Pope assumes in different dimensions: “Each name that each Pope assumes brings a whole emotional and historical charge, but also a program for the whole Church. May we be able to accept the Pope’s words with great humility, with great faith and with great openness. Let us take as an example this simplicity of those who are serving, of those who are not ‘owned’, of those who are not attached to anything”.
Both Paulo Coelho and Henrique Pinto recalled that the Church “will continue to do as it has always done, with this Pope or another”. “We are not used to a Pope walking away. We are used to a Pope dying and being replaced. But already Benedict XVI Gregory XII did and were replaced and the Church continues its work”, says Henrique Pinto.
Paulo Coelho that Pope Francis has “the greatness of humble hands, functions that look to their in as their decisions”.
“There will be WYD with the Pope”
Duarte Ricciardi, secretary of the World Youth Days 2023, assumes the “very great affection” that young Portuguese people have for Francisco and admits that he would like him to visit Portugal next year, but plays down the Pope’s phrase in the interview with TVI and the CNN Portugal.
“We are very hopeful that it will be with Pope Francis, we have a great affection for Pope Francis and we would very much like it to be with him. But if not, WYD will take place and will certainly be very successful. The Pope will be in the same central figure of WYD”, he emphasizes.
The official also assures that he welcomed the Pope’s advice to Portuguese young people with a good degree and guarantees that WYD is being prepared with the dedication and creativity that Francisco asked for.