Annelies Verlinden had several encounters with Pope: « He was among people and humble »
© AFP
Current Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) was allowed to meet Pope Franciscus several times. She hopes that the next pope « radiates the same power of connection ».
When Pope Franciscus was visiting our country at the end of September, the then Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) received him. For Verlinden, nowadays Minister of Justice, a great honor. Certainly because she is convinced herself religious. « I experienced the conversations with Pope Francis as very accessible and open, » says Verlinden about various meeting moments. « He was very interested and involved. And he put the deed to the word. He was among people and humble. »
According to Verlinden, Pope Francis lived « according to the gospel in pure form ». « At the service of others, especially for the most vulnerable. His encounters all over the world were not for the show either, but always very sincere. He did a lot for refugees, from a strong conviction. He did not stand for a top-down church, but for one who left between people. »
During the conversations with the Pope, Verlinden mainly heard « how he saw the world ». « He thought the world was missing a shared compass. And he tried to change that. » Verlinden hopes to see that in the new pope. « Just as Francis see that the Institute is never more important than the people, starting from the power of connection. »
The fact that Francis, after his visit to our country, did very much to doctors who performed abortuses – he called them « assassins » – is a pity. « Those statements were unnecessarily provocative. »
