Two PHL-based Argentinian priests vouch for Pope Francis' simplicity, humility

Two Philippine-based Argentinian priests have vouched for the simplicity and humility of newly selected Pope Francis. Fr. Luciano Felloni of the Holy Trinity Parish in Novaliches confirmed earlier reports that Pope Francis, 76, used to take the bus or train — or even walk — to work in Argentina. “'Yung pananamit niya ay napakasimple rin. 'Yung means of transportation, nakikita mo siya walking or commuting, nasa tren o nasa bus,” Felloni said in fluent Filipino in an interview on GMA News TV's “Kape at Balita” Friday. In an interview on GMA News' “Saksi” Thursday night, Fr. Orlando Norniella of the Mother of Divine Province in Payatas, Quezon City, said Pope Francis' closeness to the people will make him beloved by the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics. “Sa evangelization ngayon, kailangang dapat malapit ka sa tao. Hindi pwedeng 'andito ako, 'andun kayo. The people need this [na] parang mas malapit sa kanila,” said Norniella, who also speaks fluent Filipino. Pope Francis (formerly Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio of Buenos Aires) became the 266th pontiff in the Church's 2,000-year history after he was elected pope Thursday morning (Manila time), replacing Pope Benedict XVI who resigned last February due to health reasons. Pope Francis is the oldest of the possible candidates and was not among the small group of frontrunners predicted before the conclave. Intellectual person Felloni said Pope Francis speaks a language easily understood by the people. “Ito siguro ang pinaka-describing words sa kanya – simple siya sa pananalita, straight to the point, very sharp mind,” Felloni said. “He's a very intellectual person. Pero.. 'yung kanyang talks ay napakakonkreto. Ginagamit niya ang napakasimpleng language. Napakapuno ng konkretong halimbawa.” Felloni said he as a seminarian met Pope Francis who was then a professor at a Jesuit-led seminary. He said the new pontiff was his “kapitbahay (neighbor).” “Bilang formator ng mga Jesuits, paminsan-minsan inimbita namin siya sa seminaryo namin para magbigay siya ng recollection o kaya mga talks,” he said. LGBT groups speak Amid the praises, however, Pope Francis took a battering from gender groups, citing his vehement opposition on same-sex marriage and homosexuality when the same-sex marriage bill was approved in 2010 in Argentina, the first Latin American country to do so. Topher Porras, education and research head of LGBT group UP Babaylan, said although they respect Pope Francis' views, same-sex marriage remains to be a “universal right.” “Nire-respeto natin 'yung stand ng bagong Santo Papa. Pero again, we would like to reiterate that same-sex marriage is a human right. Now, 'yung human right, inherent ito, indivisible ito, universal so dapat regardless of sexuality, gender orientation or sex, dapat hindi ito maging basehan for marriage,” Porras said in a report on “Saksi.” Danton Remoto, founder of LGBT party-list Ladlad, said that he expects the Roman Catholic Church's leadership to remain “in the dark ages” with a Pope who openly opposed same-sex marriage. “Si Pope Francis, siyempre he will just uphold the traditional Catholic dogma. That is expected of him. The Roman Catholic Church will never elect a pope who will bring it to the 21st century,” Remoto said. Beth Angsioco, reproductive health advocate and chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines, went as far as describing the new pontiff's view on same-sex marriage and child adoption as “homophobic.” “Tinitingnan kaagad na ang gays at lesbians cannot be good parents. Masyadong judgmental at nababansagan na hindi sila puwedeng maging mabubuting magulang,” she said. Angsioco also said there will be no “drastic difference” with the Church hierarchy's stand on contraception. “Ang tingin ko hindi niya pipigilan ang mga pari na makialam sa pulitika kasi kahit siya very involved sa politics before. Palagay ko hindi magbabago kahit ano pagdating sa usapin ng RH,” she said. Pope Francis once clashed with the government of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on the issue of the free distribution of contraceptives in the South American country. First Jesuit pope Pope Francis was lauded for being the first Jesuit pope in the history of the Catholic Church. Fr. Nono Alfonso, executive director of the Jesuit Communications Foundation, said it is about time the European-dominated College of Cardinals opted for a Latin American pope. “Ang pinaka-mahalaga ay hindi na European 'yung Santo Papa, nanggaling na sa labas ng Europa,” he said. Alfonso said the hold of Catholicism in Europe is waning, as compared to the 500 million-strong Catholic population in Latin America. “Kasi nga 'yung mga simbahan ng Europa, kokonti na 'yung nagsisimba. Pero karamihan sa mga Katoliko ngayon halos sa Latin America, 42 percent of the 1.2 billion Catholics are in Latin America,” he pointed out. Fr. Joe Quilongquilong, assistant professor of spirituality at the Jesuit-led Ateneo de Manila University, admitted that he was surprised that Pope Francis was chosen since Jesuits were formed usually as followers and not leaders. “Part nga sa aming spirituality and formation not to aspire or ambition to become a bishop. With this new pope, it's a reminder again that kailangan natin ng patuloy na pagbabago. Ito 'yung tinatawag nating ongoing conversion po,” he said. The election of Pope Francis also surprised Vatican spokesperson Father Federico Lombardi, who is also a Jesuit. "Personally, I'm a bit shocked to have a Jesuit pope. Jesuits think of themselves as servants, and not authorities in Church," Lombardi said in a statement posted on the Twitter account of Catholic News Services. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/KBK, GMA News