Chris Jansing: Can We Talk About How Shocking It Is To Hear a Pope Speak English?

EXCERPT:

JANSING: “And I was listening just before I came out here, he’s saying his first mass right now at the Sistine Chapel. And first of all, can we talk about how shocking it is to hear a pope speak English, maybe tinged with a little bit of south side in it? And he said, when he was going to make his homily, he said, 'I’m going to start just very briefly before going into Italian,' speaking in English. And he said, 'You have called me to carry the cross. I’m humbled to carry out the mission.' And he asked for the help of cardinals. He has got a big cross to bear: a divided church, a huge financial crisis. Obviously, the wars in Gaza. He’s had things to say about Russia and Ukraine, criticizing Russia. And then all the social issues we’ve talked about. But I think the world kind of took a breath when he came out onto that loggia and saw in him somebody very relatable, speaks five languages. And as you pointed out, is a deeply learned man in the Gospel, somebody who has his master’s degree in that before — you know, he also had undergrad in math and canon law for his PhD, so somebody who's facing a lot, but seems very calm in knowing what's ahead of him."