Hampshire's top Catholic welcomes Pope Francis I

8:00am Sunday 17th March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Rebecca Pearson, Reporter

The Right Reverend Philip Egan The Right Reverend Philip Egan

THE head of the Catholic church in Hampshire believes Pope Francis I is the right man to lead the faith out of its troubles.

Bishop of Portsmouth, the Right Reverend Philip Egan said that although the new Holy Father is 76 he will bring energy and wisdom to the church.

He said: “You’ve got here a man of incredible wisdom and he seems to have a lot of energy.

“For all the things that need to be tackled in the church at the moment, it perhaps needs someone with a steady hand.”

The new papacy will include leading the church through the current sex abuse scandal and on-going conflict between the church and issues of contraception, abortion, the introduction of women priests and same sex marriage.

Bishop Egan feels Pope Francis will be able to cope with leading the church through its problems.

He said: “Each era is troubled in its own way.

“Anyone in leadership in the church has to make difficult choices.

“I do hope that this pope will have a sense of the challenges of Western Europe, including a loss of faith in Europe which is leading to a crisis in values.”

He spoke of how when a population does not believe in God people begin to fight for power and control.

“He’s from Latin America, and the church in Latin America is very big and has, for several years, been on the side of the poor. There’s an evangelical simplicity to this man. I think he will bring that to the church.”

As well as being the first Latin American pope, Pope Francis I is also the first Jesuit, who characteristically makes important decisions through discernment, a process of retreating to perform spiritual exercises in which they ask God’s guidance.

The bishop said: “I think that after 500 years of the Jesuit order it’s time to have a Jesuit pope. “One of the great gifts of the Jesuits is the fidelity of the church and the gift of discernment.”

Comments(13)

Stillness says...
9:14am Sun 17 Mar 13

Nice to see a member of the Catholic clergy not bashing the bishop.

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Stillness says...
9:15am Sun 17 Mar 13

Yes I know he's the Pope but it just didn't sound right ;-)

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arthur boutfaith says...
9:16am Sun 17 Mar 13

Rhubarb and custard.

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News Fanatic says...
9:46am Sun 17 Mar 13

Utterly predictable - the Bishop would hardly say the new Pope was the worst possible choice.

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localnews says...
10:48am Sun 17 Mar 13

Stillness wrote:
Nice to see a member of the Catholic clergy not bashing the bishop.
LOL

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J.P.M says...
1:28pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Stillness wrote:
Nice to see a member of the Catholic clergy not bashing the bishop.
By the redness of his face, it looks like he has just finished.

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Stillness says...
1:30pm Sun 17 Mar 13

J.P.M wrote:
Stillness wrote:
Nice to see a member of the Catholic clergy not bashing the bishop.
By the redness of his face, it looks like he has just finished.
That would explain the smile I guess.

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SOULJACKER says...
5:29pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Holy cr@p has he been at the communion wine or what?

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bazzeroz says...
7:09pm Sun 17 Mar 13

And I get clobbered for my comment on another story! Priceless quotes people. BAN THE 'BEDROOM TAX'

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Stillness says...
7:12pm Sun 17 Mar 13

bazzeroz wrote:
And I get clobbered for my comment on another story! Priceless quotes people. BAN THE 'BEDROOM TAX'
As being clobbered is very close to a good bashing would you care to share the other story? ;-)

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stay local says...
1:31am Mon 18 Mar 13

"As well as being the first Latin American pope, Pope Francis I is also the first Jesuit, who characteristically makes important decisions through discernment, a process of retreating to perform spiritual exercises in which they ask God’s guidance."

So is Philip Egan actually claiming that gods speaks to the pope? Does he have any evidence of this, as most people I have come across who have heard a mysterious voice have wound up in a secure hospital?

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George4th says...
11:37am Mon 18 Mar 13

How come in all that we do, science, technology, medicine etc etc etc, we request proof of it being correct, safe, and secure, and yet people are prepared to accept an enormous variety of religions by word of mouth?!!!! And fight about it!!!

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kingnotail says...
6:07pm Mon 18 Mar 13

All hail the Kiddie-Fiddler-In-Ch
ief

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