Bermuda’s Catholic Bishop says the late Pope appointed Cardinals from across the global church
As Bermuda’s Catholic community mourns the loss of Pope Francis, Wes Spiewak, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, says it is like losing a patriarch.
“It’s like losing a father in a certain sense”, says Bishop Wes, “because this is the role of the Pope – to be the father of all the Catholic people around the world.”
(WATCH highlights from our interview with Bishop Wes Spiewak above, or scroll down for the extended interview)
Pope Francis, who passed away early on Monday, was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1936.
Ordained priest in 1969, and created Cardinal in 2001, his Papacy began on 13th March 2013.
Bishop Wes says he is thankful to God that “God has given us this Pope. I was hoping for pope coming from South America.”
“The longer I live, the more I am convinced that our church, our Roman Catholic church, has become too bound to the Western civilization, the European civilization, instead of being the Catholic Church. Catholic means universal.”
Bishop Wes believes a different perspective coming from a different cultural background can only help the church.
He also says that Pope Francis appointed Cardinals from around the global Catholic church, including Mongolia, Myanmar and Bangladesh, whereas historically many Cardinals were appointed from Italy and Europe.
“He made an incredibly colorful picture of the College of the Cardinals today”, says Bishop Wes.
“So those who will come to Rome to elect the new pope, they will reflect the reality of the Catholic Church, not just of the Western church.”
