Bergoglio down on his knees, cleaning a bathroom

Friday, February 19th, 2016

“80% of what the Pope says is based on real-life experiences: when I listen to him I am often able to make the connection with situations that actually occurred. He is not a theorist, he’s hands-on. And he is able to learn from the faith of the holy people of God.”

Fr. Guillermo Ortiz is an Argentinian Jesuit who works at Vatican Radio: he is covering the Pope’s trip to Mexico and recalls how, when Bergoglio was rector and spiritual director of the Colegio Máximo, he would speak about spirituality and his own journey of faith, while also feeding the pigs.

He spoke to Vatican Insider about his experiences with the then rector, Bergoglio, and explained why popular devotion was so important to him.

Fr. Ortiz, what has the most important moment of the papal visit been so far?
His moment of prayer before Our Lady of Guadalupe, I think. The Pope’s devotion for Mary is highly significant.

If you read over the speeches he gave during the first couple of days, one notices the great importance given to popular faith, the importance of the people.

The Catechism mentions papal infallibility on issues relating to faith and morality but we forget that the Catechism also mentions the infallibility of the people of God in the way they express the faith.

Speaking to Mexico’s bishops on 13 February, the Pope in a pendulum and ultrasound –like way, described Mary and then spoke about the people, with the umbilical cord of popular piety.

He invited bishops to bend over the womb of the people’s faith. Mary’s womb carries the Son of God and the holy people of God.

Does the Pope “learn” from people’s faith?
He said he was coming here to learn before he left for Mexico. The Pope is a son of Mary but he is also a son of the people of God.

He knows that God acts among the people, he knows the sensus fidei of the people, the poor people who have nothing. Continue reading

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