Ga. priest speaks on Francis’ legacy for Latino communities around the world
ATLANTA, Ga. - There is no denying Jorge Mario Bergoglio, better known as Pope Francis, left a mark on the world.
He was the first pope to come from the New World.
“He was just an archbishop in Argentina, just like the archbishop of Atlanta,” said Father Gerardo Ceballos-Gonzalez with Archdiocese of Atlanta.
Pope Francis was known to be a champion for social justice, and often strayed away from the norms in the Catholic church. The world and the Latino community is mourning his loss, even in Georgia.
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“I think the impact that Francis has left in the Catholic church and especially the Latino church is that there is a voice for half of the Catholic population,” said Ceballos-Gonzalez. “The cardinals took a risk, because, they went out of the comfort zone of choosing just maybe an Italian. There was only a curia in the Office of the Vatican. They chose a shepherd.”
Alex Wijoyo stopped by Catholic Cathedral of Christ the King for midday mass on Monday. He re the Pope’s works, specifically recalling his Jesuit ideology.
“It’s very personal to me. I like him very much,” he said. “The way he ed people, especially the poor, the marginalized, that is very Jesuit to me.”
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Ceballos-Gonzalez hopes the Pope’s legacy can be defined by bringing people of all races, religions and creeds together.
“Ultimately, he’s a spiritual leader, not only for Catholics, not only for Christians, but I think he speaks in the name of goodness in the name of truth,” said Ceballos-Gonzalez.
Said Wijoyo: “I am not really worried that he died. I’m actually very grateful that he lived as a person as Pope.”
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