Chicago Jesuits On Pope Francis: Loyola Community Reflects On Vatican's Historic Choice

Chicago Jesuits Reflect On Significance Of New Pope

Chicago's Loyola University has been buzzing all week as the Jesuit Catholic school celebrated the announcement of the first-ever Jesuit Holy Father, Pope Francis.

Rev. Michael J. Garanzini, president and CEO of Loyola penned an op-ed in the Sunday Tribune the same day Pope Francis made his first window appearance of the papacy.

In his letter, Rev. Garanzini noted the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina's humble background and commitment to social justice.

Amid ongoing controversy over sex abuse in the church, some Loyola students believe a pope with Jesuit ideals would be a boon for the scandal-plagued institution.

“The Jesuits believe in humility and they believe in social justice, education and helping out the poor," Loyola student Jack Williams told WGN. "Things that will really help the Catholic image in the world."

Earlier, Chicago Magazine broke down why the selection of a Jesuit pope is such a big deal, even among the non-faithful.

In a message to HuffPost, Author Chris Lowney and Jennon Bell of Loyola Press wrote that Francis' training as a Jesuit is "rooted in four guiding principles of leadership": Self-awareness, ingenuity, love and heroism.

According Lowney and Bell, Rev. Timothy P. Kesicki, S.J., Head of Chicago-Detroit Province of the Society of Jesus, based in Chicago, said:

“I think in some ways [we Jesuits] are going to be on our toes perhaps a little more. [Francis] knows us intimately, himself a former provincial, (leader of other Jesuits) who knows our charisma, and our spirituality. He also knows our availability to serve the church wherever in the world we’re needed and I can see him calling upon us to say, ‘I need you to go to this place, to this situation, to this great need...’ I trust we will follow.”

Jesuit priest, Paul Brian Campbell, SJ, Publisher at Loyola Press in Chicago found a modern example of the new pope's humility many Jesuits cite as characteristic of the faith: A YouTube clip of a flustered secretary with the Roman Curia whom the Pope had to calm after the man refused to believe he had the Holy Father on the line.

Pope Francis reportedly told the man, "Relax. There is no problem."

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