Bishop Medley shakes hands with Pope Francis when meeting the morning of Dec. 4, 2019, during the bishop’s ad limina visit to the Vatican. COURTESY OF L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO
‘The pope we needed’ – Bishop Medley remembers Francis, prays for upcoming conclave
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
During the April 25 Mass at St. Stephen Cathedral for the intention of the soul of Pope Francis, Bishop William F. Medley reflected back to 12 years ago.
“As the conclave unfolded, the world waited for white smoke,” said Bishop Medley, who presided at the cathedral’s 12:05 p.m. Mass that Friday.
Because of digital and social media, “we were instantaneously aware that a new pope had been elected,” said the bishop, detailing how the staff of the diocese’s pastoral center hurried down to the basement level to watch the Vatican happenings on a large screen.
Fr. J. Patrick Reynolds, the diocese’s vicar general, caught some of the Latin being spoken in the announcement of the newly elected pontiff, and asked, “Did they say Buenos Aires?”
Bishop Medley responded, “I don’t know who he is or where he’s from, but he chose the name ‘Francis.’”
Because Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was not on the “front burner” for most media outlets, Bishop Medley recalled several minutes passing before a summary about the Argentinian cardinal could be assembled and shared on TV.
The bishop also remembered watching the new pope walk out to the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on March 13, 2013, and did something before offering the traditional blessing.
“Francis bowed his head and asked Rome and the world to pray for him,” said Bishop Medley.
Bishop Medley said the late pontiff “became a tireless advocate, confronting the world of wealth and power.”
In an interview with The Western Kentucky Catholic, Bishop Medley said that when he first heard the name Francis, “I figured it was for St. Francis Xavier, who founded the Jesuits” (of which Cardinal Bergoglio was a member). Instead, his name had been chosen after St. Francis of Assisi, who cared for the poor.
Bishop Medley had met the pope three times – once when leading a pilgrimage to Rome in 2019 and participating in the Wednesday audience, and then later that same year when making his ad limina visit to the Vatican, which is when bishops are required to routinely meet with the pope.
His first encounter was earlier, in 2015, when Pope Francis visited the United States and met with the U.S. bishops at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C.
“Francis revealed (much) about his papacy and identity” by choosing that name, said Bishop Medley, especially in his compassion for “the poor, particularly with a focus on immigrants and refugees.”
On April 28, the Holy See Press Office announced that the conclave to elect the 267th pope would begin May 7.
Bishop Medley said that in the last several centuries, the Church has been blessed with a “remarkable” lineup of recent popes like Pope St. John XXIII, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope St. John Paul II.
As the Church approaches the election of St. Peter’s successor, Bishop Medley said that “the history of the Church shows oftentimes how the Holy Spirit has given us the pope we need.”
