Making of Pope Francis

Jorge Mario Bergoglio known as Pope Francis today is a unique gift to God. He stepped in at a moment when the Church was feeling very low with a dwindling self-esteem, fragile and defenseless, her moral authority challenged from within and out. He was chosen by God to guide his Church as a sacrament of God’s mercy and forgiving love and to rejuvenate the Church to be powerful witness of God’s kingdom. A brief life sketch of Pope Francis and an analysis of the events and experiences that molded and formed Pope Francis, a leader of unprecedented courage and qualities would show that this person is gifted to the Church by the Lord to renew the Church and re-awaken its mission to be the light and the salt of the earth. His self-awareness of his weaknesses and strengths, his complete trust in the providential care of the Lord and renewing power of the Spirit, his lived experience of Ignatian spirituality help him to guide the Church through dialogue, discernment  and de-centralization.  Pope Francis has brought in revolutionary change in Church, attitudes, approach and style in relating with those within the Church as well as outside the Church. In spite of considerable resistance, such attitudinal and stylistic changes have evoked  greater confidence, hope and enthusiasm in the ordinary believers and a greater acceptance of Pope’s spiritual and moral leadership by the entire world.