The Pillar once reported that when it came time to fill the difficult and important role of prefect for the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith -- the role the future Benedict XVI held from 1981 until John Paul II's death -- his thoughts turned to the United States.
“In fact, Pope Francis was convinced the right man for the role was Cardinal [Joseph] Tobin [of Newark],” one senior source at the Vatican Secretariat of State told The Pillar.
In the end, and for various reasons, the source said that Francis went with a different American -- a South American from his own Argentina.
Whether or not this is true, it does say something about the kind of man shepherding the flock in Newark, New Jersey. The cardinal has just turned 73 (his birthday is May 3) and brings his experience as a religious superior (he's a Redemptorist) and a bishop to the conclave.
The archdiocese's own Jersey Catholic asked the cardinal to share with all of us a bit of his experience -- both with Pope Francis, and with the process of finding his successor.
A teacher
Cardinal Tobin remembered Pope Francis with affection, saying he was a teacher "in a subject I thought I’d never study — how to be a bishop."
The cardinal recalled receiving the pallium from him during his first summer as pope.
He came up to me before the Mass, gave me a hug and said, ‘I’ve been praying for you.’ When he put the pallium on my shoulders, the whole service had been in Italian, but he switched to Spanish and said, ‘May the Cross bear good fruit.’ That’s not part of the ritual — but he said that to me.
I thought, ‘He knew what he was talking about.’ Even the personal crosses we all carry can be a source of grace and new life. I accepted the pallium with that spirit. Of the many experiences [with him], that was a particularly warm one for me.
For Cardinal Tobin and for his fellow cardinals -- as in some sense for all the faithful -- the loss of the pope is a personal loss.
He spoke of how the cardinals "just really miss him."
When we pray the Eucharistic Prayer and we no longer mention the Pope — there is none. That’s a daily reminder. So, there is grief. There is also hope. And urgency. We realize the very precarious circumstance of the world today.
Opening the heart
Now, as the cardinal prepares to participate in choosing Francis' successor, he says he's praying for "openness."
I’ve not said anything yet in any of the meetings of the College of Cardinals. But I’ve listened. I’m listening and thinking, ‘What’s God saying in all this?'" he explained.
And the cardinal urged the faithful to stay firm in hope -- a message Pope Francis repeated time and again.
This is all happening in the Jubilee Year of Hope. There’s a challenge Peter gives to an early Christian community in his letter: Be ready to give a reason for the hope that’s in your heart. So, let’s ask: Why do we have hope? If we’re wondering what’s the real hope, look at the crucifix because it’s God — arms nailed open for all eternity to welcome us.
Read the whole interview here.
