The new pope wants ‘in the spirit of Francis’, Katholiek sees the Netherlands

« Of course we are happy that a fellow brother was chosen as pope, » says Father Pierre Stikkelbroeck of Kloosterorde de Augustijnen in Eindhoven. « All the more so because we know him well and know that it is a man who will be perfectly in place. I think he will be a good leader and inspiration for the church in the footsteps of his predecessor. »

The new Pope Leo XIV, born as Robert Prevost, is an Augustijn and was also a director of that order for a while. Stikkelbroeck has sometimes met him in that role. At a worldwide meeting in 2019, but Prevost also visited Eindhoven from his role, De Pater says.

Francis was for protecting nature, but also for the rise for the vulnerable in this world

The Order of the Augustines dates from the Middle Ages. The clergymen went to live close to or in cities to do pastoral work. They did not have their own income and were dependent on others. In the Netherlands there is another monastery order in Eindhoven and in Utrecht.

According to Stikkelbroeck, the new pope has proven that he is socially involved. « He has experience in South America as a missionary and bishop in a very poor country. And he is very socially moved. » Stikkelbroeck also sees someone who can be important for the whole world. « His first words were: » I wish you peace, all brothers and sisters in the world. « It is not a gathering for the Catholic Church. »

Electoral cardinals

Bishop Gerard de Korte of the diocese of Den Bosch was surprised at the speed with which the new pope was chosen. « It was suggested that it was going to take longer because the college of electoral cardinals was larger and because the cardinals did not know each other well. But just like the previous two elections, it was ready on the second day. »

The short is pleasantly surprised by the choice for Prevost. The bishop finds him a man with a « hugely fascinating life history. » He does not find the emphasis on his American nationality, certainly not in the light of the current US President Donald Trump. In addition to the American, Prevost also has Peruvian nationality. « He emphasizes the importance of humanity, of people like creatures of God. In that sense you have a universal thinking pope towards a nationalist president. »

De Korte: « I hope that the new pope, like Francis, gives a voice to the voice. » Just like Pope Francis, the Bishop has a lot of attention for a just society from his role. « Francis was very strong at that. He was for protecting nature, but also for the rise for the vulnerable in this world. It seems that this new pope wants to do that too. I am very happy with that. »

De Korte also fell on peace in the first speech by Leo XIV. « We live in a world that is plagued by a large number of wars, a lot of violence and people who suffer from it. And he not only called on Catholics, but actually all the people to work on the use of peace. »

Communism

The church is a ‘soft power’, Vatican City has no troops, says De Korte. « But we should not underestimate the pope as a moral body. » And it is not just about the pope as a moral leader, says De Korte, who recalls different moments in which a pope actually caused change. According to him, Pope John Paul II played an important role in the downfall of communism in Poland. And Pope Francis played an important role in the Paris climate agreement according to De Korte.

De Korte expects Leo XIV to continue the line of Francis. « Francis always said that the church is the house of all people. In addition, he used the word ‘tutti’ a lot. Leo XIV used that yesterday on the balcony of the Sint-Pieter too. »

The influence of the Pope in the Netherlands is more complicated, De Korte thinks because the Netherlands is one of the most decayed countries in the world. He sees that there has been a lot of attention for the Catholic Church lately, with the death of Pope Francis and the election of the new Pope.

Democratization

Maria van Schaijik sees « white smoke for women » with this new pope. The chairman of Network Katholieke Vrouwen Nederland finds the choice for Prevost ‘very beautiful and surprising’. Viewed from the perspective of Catholic women, she is satisfied. « I was particularly looking forward to a Pope who would continue Pope Francis’s policy, because that was favorable. The position for women has improved, but we are not there yet. »

Van Schaijik sees a good driver in the new pope. « He can listen well and immediately mentioned the word » synodality « . That is the democratization process in the Catholic Church, which also involves voting rights for women. »

Well before it got into fashion, this pope already thought about how everyone can participate in the church

According to priest and theologian Anton ten Klooster of Tilburg University, the Order of Augustijnen has a long tradition of synodality. « Well before it was in fashion under Francis, this pope thought about how everyone can participate in the church. » Ten Klooster therefore expects that the new Pope will have clear ideas about « how we continue together as a church. »

According to the theologian, a major change of course – for example to a more conservative policy – is unlikely. « Prevost is less impulsive than his predecessor, but the appreciation with which he spoke about Francis shows that he wants to go through in his mind. »

With the cooperation of Luuk van der Sterren

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