From OSV News comes an interview with Vatican News correspondent Salvatore Cernuzio, who covered Pope Francis and developed a close friendship with him. In a new book, Padre, Cernuzio offers personal glimpses into the life of Francis — and the late pontiff’s dealings with those around him:
One of the interesting anecdotes Cernuzio recalled in his book is that he would sometimes talk about or even joke with the late pontiff about the future conclave.
While Cernuzio made clear that then-Cardinal Robert Prevost’s name was never discussed in conversations about possible successors, on one occasion did Pope Francis express admiration for the future pope.“Him? He’s a saint,” the pope said of Cardinal Prevost. However, Cernuzio notes in his book that the term “saint” was often used by Pope Francis “to refer to people capable of calmly handling discussions, tensions and complex situations, and of managing to create unity.”
Pope Francis “used to categorize people in his own way: ‘He’s a saint,’ ‘he’s clever,’ ‘he’s a poet,’” Cernuzio told OSV News.
Cernuzio said that in hindsight, the late pope was not far off from his description of the man who would become his successor.
Pope Leo XIV is “facing perhaps the worst period humanity has seen in 80 years, with wars multiplying around the world,” the journalist said.
“In Pope Francis’ sense, I see him as someone calm, steady, able to handle difficult situations while remaining grounded and fostering unity. He is a ‘saint’ not in the sense of being sinless, but in the sense of someone guiding the Church through a very difficult time, also dealing with unresolved issues left behind.”
“Pope Francis used to say, ‘Initiate processes, don’t occupy spaces,’” Cernuzio added. “He opened paths, and now Pope Leo is walking them.”
