Vicar for Māori recalls encounter with future Pope Leo XIV

Manuel Beazley wrote in Auckland Diocese’s NZ Catholic newsletter about spending time at a 2023 retreat for the Synod on Synodality with some Spanish-speaking Synod attendees. One of those at the lunch table was the future Pope, who had just been made a cardinal.

“My Spanish is passable, and I was attempting to converse in Spanish when a voice in English says, ‘Tu español es bueno, but we can speak English’,” Mr Beazley said.

The voice belonged to Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV.

“We had several other conversations during the remainder of the two sessions of the assembly. My impression of him would be that he was (is) a reserved person, who listens more than he speaks, but when he did (does) speak, he spoke with passion and with clarity in what he thinks and believes,” Mr Beazley said.

“He told me that he is committed to the vision of a synodal Church. In this regard, he will continue the work of Pope Francis, but his style will be different to Pope Francis.

“But I’m sure Pope Francis will be pleased that Pope Leo is our new Holy Father. From what I have seen of the first days of Pope Leo’s ministry, I am too.”

Mr Beazley had encountered Cardinal Prevost a few days beforehand, but this was “relatively unremarkable. I remember it to be a warm greeting, but nothing else”.

Before the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV last month, the National Catholic Reporter’s correspondent in Rome, Christopher White, noted that then-Cardinal Prevost “speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese and can read Latin and German”.

“While fluent in languages, he is not garrulous,” Mr White wrote. “When he speaks, he does so with caution and great deliberation. A private man with a reserved style, he will not score high on the charm offensive. But his steely determination and clarity might comfort those looking for a leader who knows where he wants to go and how to get there.”

FULL STORY

Engaging with Pope Leo before he was Pope (NZ Catholic)

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