Fr. Fessio on Pope Francisco

Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J., founder of Ignatius Press, has this to say about Pope Francis:

I’m overjoyed. He is a great Jesuit, a traditional one. He’s “progressive” in the sense that he loves the poor, and—more importantly—lives a life of simplicity. But he is completely faithful to the Church’s teaching. So he really is a “pontifex maximus”, which is Latin for “the greatest bridge builder”. He bridges the Old World and the New, doctrinal orthodoxy and service to the poor. And what a great new name for a Pope, “Francis”. Francis of Assisi, the great lover of creation and the poor, who was told by Our Lord to “rebuild my Church”. Francis Xavier, fellow Jesuit and the greatest missionary of the Church. Francis Borgia, another fellow Jesuit, a saint who was a vigorous General of the Jesuits.