Antonio Spadaro is likely to be a relative of communication Pope Francis, who died last Monday. Director between 2011 and 2023 from … CIVILTà Cattolica, the prestigious magazine of the Jesus Association whose texts enjoy the approval of the Foreign Minister, Spadaro conducted the first interview by Jorge Mario Bergoglio granting the Pope, which was published in September 2013.
What is highly from 12 years of Pontificate?
I have many memories, but above all I would like to highlight the character of a great man, he knew how to always be in the midst of moments of distress and great drama. He made a contribution to the extraordinary world, because in reality we lived, was the only moral leader of the global influence on the world. He was able to dialogue with everyone: heads of state and religious presidents, and people of all kinds and condition. He was also prophetic, as he saw since 2014 that “World War III to parts” had fought, as he was determined during his trip to Rome after visiting Korea. She was a character of reconciliation and peace that tried to play all her cards with tailor diplomacy, that is, an attempt to sew, pray and challenge. It is a lot required at this time.
I was the first to meet Bergolio after his choice as Roma. What memories do you have from those first meetings with him?
-That experience for the first interview in 2013 was essential and allowed me to understand the type of the person who was Francisco. In that conversation he revealed himself, he talked about himself and how Pontevity will be. It is an interview to understand it well now, at a long distance, because I see that I have a very accurate idea of the church, but I am open to how Pontificate develops. This impressed I deeply. I would also like to highlight his human side, which was immediate and spontaneous and said things directly. I sometimes told him that what he told me was very nice, but it is better not to copy it and publish it, but he told me to go ahead, to publish it. The Pope was completely open and he accepted all the questions.
The Pope was also open to changes. Do you think that the reforms you have made are really irreversible?
Francisco traveled a great path, as many fruits occurred and many seeds were released. It is a process that must be completed naturally, but the work he has already done is deeply vaccinated in the life of the Church.
-How do you imagine behind you?
I do not have a glass ball. This is the mission of the Cardinals. Now they should know each other slightly better, try to understand the demands of the church at this time and know what is the necessary and important number at the time we live.
Will it have a continuity with Francisco?
-You can know what will happen. I see a deep continuity with all the Pope, although each one has sometimes made its way very different patterns. Let’s consider Pius XII changes to John Xxiii, or from Paul VI to John Paul I and John Paul II. They are completely diverse characters, but we see that in the life of the Church, there is a deep continuity because those who carry the Lord are not men.
