Sunday, 17 March 2013

New Pope In Town

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has chosen Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis.

Pope John Paul II said that St. Francis' love and care for creation was a challenge and a reminder,
"not to behave like dissident predators where nature is concerned, but to assume responsibility for it, taking all care so that everything stays healthy and integrated, so as to offer a welcoming and friendly environment even to those who succeed us." 

Sound advice regardless of our spiritual preference.

St Francis is said to have received this message,“Francis, go, rebuild my house, which as you see is in ruins.” Could those words be any truer today? The path Pope Francis has chosen requires strength, courage, steadfastness and a nimble mind. My gift to him would be a garden. A place of  quiet, of manual labour, of fresh air, of birds and bugs and worms. Gardeners know the healing power of the garden.

I would suggest something smaller and more private than the Vatican gardens below.

File:Vatican Gardens 2.jpg

Perhaps something with a little stone shed to store the tools and shelter from the rain

File:XN Kerascoet.jpg


For the rest of us, the little people doing small things, we are the rear guard action. Slowly but steadily gaining ground.

15 comments:

  1. Lovely post! I had not seen a picture of the Vatican gardens before! Beautiful! I'm not Catholic but the "new guy in town" sounds humble and impressive.

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    1. Humble has been the feature which has caught the world's imagination. What does that say about what we are lacking in our lives?

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  2. So true!
    I was so delighted he chose that name - I'm in the "undecided" category regarding religion but when younger chose Francis as my patron saint- due to his love of animals and the natural world. I think your garden would be perfect for this man who embraces unpretentiousness and simplicity.

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    1. St Francis was my favourite too. Part of being humble is being open to other points of view. I hope it will be true in this case.

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  3. I so appreciate anyone who holds such a role to take such a stance as he has with the selection of his name....Bravo! And yes it is all of us and the little things that we do that make such a difference in the world!

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    1. I find this Pope interesting. I hope he does not become overwhelmed by the staus quo. Little people don't have to worry about their entourage.

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  4. It is the small and intimate gardens that I love so much. They are lovingly cared for by the worn hands of those that care and one by one, brighten the world every day. I need no estate or professional organization to tell me how to plant my gardens; I just need some fertile soil, a good shovel, some seeds and plants to learn the lessons that matter in life.

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  5. From what I've heard about the new Pope, he would love your small and intimate garden more than those large gardens at the Vatican. I'm not Catholic, but I have been very impressed by what I've heard about the new guy in town!

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    1. I don't expect him to make major shifts in church philosophy. At least he seems willing to talk with groups the church has traditionally opposed which has to be a good thing.

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  6. I had no idea that the Vatican even had gardens wouldn't it be good if they created a more intimate more wild garden for all those religious folks to go to and meditate or whatever it is that they do.

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  7. I am not a Catholic, but like Holley, I am impressed with the new Pope. Hopefully he will be a breath of fresh air.

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  8. This is a lovely post - so beautifully written and I completely agree with you about the healing powers of the garden.

    Like many of the others here, I didn't know that the Vatican had such splendid gardens. Having spent years resisting Rome as a holiday venue, your post has finally convinced me to visit Vatican City. My family are eternally grateful to you!

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    1. Funny how families negotiate holidays. We all like hiking but no holiday is complete for me without at least one museum or ancient building. The gardens at the Pope's official summer residence, Castel Gandolfo, are quite something. Easy to get to from Rome if you want to add them to your itinerary.

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