"For once the holy spirit blew the right way." Giulio Sapelli has no doubts: «The appointment of Bergoglio as pontiff is very positive». Professor of Economic History at the University of Milan, an intellectual of Catholic inspiration, but also a specialist in Latin America, Sapelli has been following the archbishop of Buenos Aires for a long time («I have never been able to meet him directly, but I have listened to him speak in public. It's extraordinary").
FIRST online What kind of person is Pope Francis?
Sapelli – He is a Jesuit by training and has had a matured vocation, ordained a priest at the age of 32. Already the choice of name is a whole program: Bergoglio has always traveled by subway and bus, like a normal person. When he left the archbishopric, he was to go to the poorest parishes of his city. He taught and directed the University of San Salvador, in Argentina one of the bulwarks against the dictatorship, in those dark years. He is a special person, as we saw yesterday when he asked the people to pray for him, in that surreal silence.
FIRST online – Compared to the economy and political power, how is it positioned?
Sapelli – Above all, he dealt with charity rather than with economic theories. That has always been his priority. Compared to the Argentine Peronist government, he was at times very severe, criticizing the exploitation of the poorest for intimidation and propaganda purposes. He reminded everyone of the need to help the poor but refusing to let them become the instrument of struggle of political power against others.
FIRST online – What is your position with respect to liberation theology?
Sapelli – He opposed it and tried to avoid all the damage it caused, including indirectly the displacement of masses of faithful in Latin America towards evangelical churches. He tried to find a third way, between the traditional Church and the theology of liberation, trying in any case to remain on the side of the least. It should be emphasized that Argentina is the country in South America where the evangelical churches have taken root the least.
FIRST online – And how will it intervene on the IOR?
Sapelli – The matter has already been resolved. Suddenly Cardinal Bertone, in the interregnum, when Ratzinger had already presented his resignation, appointed a new president of the IOR. Instead, he should have waited at least a month and left the management of that problem to the new pontiff.
