June 27, 2019, was the anniversary of the Episcopal Ordination, 27 years ago, of Father Jorge Mario Bergoglio, in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Buenos Aires, on June 27, 1992, fifth centenary of the Evangelization of Latin America. He was 55 years old.
The Tweet published today on his account, in the form of a Blessing, summarizes, perhaps, how the Pope sees the role of a Bishop: “Blessed is he who believes and has the courage to create encounter and communion.”
However, Pope Francis already drew on several occasion the portrait of the Bishop according to his heart, as he did in his homily on November 12, 2018, at Saint Martha’s: “It’s the Word of God which proclaims that the Bishop must be a meek and humble servant, not a prince.” “It’s not a post-Conciliar novelty, but it goes back to the beginnings of the Church when she realized she had to organize herself,” pointed out the Pope.
“There cannot be order in the Church without this type of Bishop, beginning with “hospitality,” to then “be enamored of the good,” “reasonable, just, holy, master of himself, faithful to the Word that has been taught to him.”
A video of the archive describes the event. Buenos Aires’ Auxiliary Bishop was ordained at the same time as Monsignor Raul Omar Rossi (1938-2003), Bishop of San Martin, by Cardinal Antonio Quarracino, Archbishop of Buenos Aires (1923-1998).
He was appointed Coadjutor on June 3, 1997, before succeeding Cardinal Quarracino, who died on February 28, 1998.
John Paul II created Bergoglio Cardinal on February 21, 2001. He was elected Pope, at 76, on March 13, 2013.
Born on December 17, 1936, he was ordained priest on December 13, 1969, four days before his 33rd Birthday. He had made his perpetual vows in the Society of Jesus on April 22, 1973.
