O’malley ‘happy’ and ‘relieved’ by New Pope Choice

By Laurel J. Sweet
Boston Herald
March 14, 2013

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2013/03/o_malley_happy_and_relieved_by_new_pope_choice

Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley is “relieved” all speculation as to his papal potential is behind him with yesterday’s election of Pope Francis of Argentina, according to Bishop Robert P. Deeley, who spoke with O’Malley this morning.

“I spoke to the cardinal this morning and he is just very happy. He’s relieved, first of all, and he’s happy in the choice,” Deeley told reporters at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End, where he presided over a small, multiracial Mass of Thanksgiving in honor of the pope, the 76-year-old leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.

Deeley said the cardinal was “relieved in the sense that there was so much speculation that he would be elected pope.

“And it’s a heavy burden,” he added. “It’s a very heavy burden. I think Cardinal Sean really was anxious to come home. We’re anxious to have him home.”

Pope Francis — the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio — is no stranger to O’Malley, Deeley said.

“The cardinal has been to Argentina, has met him and spent time with him,” Deeley said. “He spoke (today) of how he enjoyed that visit and how committed the new pope is to those causes which are important to the cardinal.”

Deeley said “it’s very possible” the Hub could see a visit from the pontiff, noting, “He certainly looked healthy yesterday, didn’t he?”

Pope Francis’ photograph was on display in the chapel next to a bouquet of lemon yellow roses and baby’s breath. Fewer than 20 parishioners attended this morning’s Mass, during which they sang, “Long Live the Pope.”

Deeley told the congregation he was in Rome when now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was elected the world’s 265th pope and recalled how Pope Francis — who was reportedly first runner-up for the post at the time— “created quite a stir among many in Rome.

“He wandered the city by himself,” he said. “He took the 64 bus to the Vatican. It runs from the main train station in Rome to the Vatican, right through the center of the city. You always keep one hand on your wallet because the pickpockets are out in force because that’s where all the tourists are.”

Deeley said while Pope Francis’ common-man routes may “resonate” with the faithful, “He’s not going to be riding city buses anymore,” adding with a laugh, “there’s no public transportation system within the Vatican.”

Deeley confirmed O’Malley will remain in Rome through at least Tuesday to witness Pope Francis’ Mass of Installation. Beyond that his travel plans are unknown to even his closest staff back in Boston.

“He’ll be home before Holy Week,” Deeley said. “He’ll stay for the Mass with the rest of the cardinals and then he’ll come home. Probably next week.”

Deeley said he didn’t ask O’Malley if he knows just how close he came to being elected the first American pope.

“It’s all secret,” he said, “so I never would ask.”