Former German chancellor Angela Merkel has said she hopes the next pope will continue the course chartered by Francis, as cardinals are gathering in Rome to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church, reported dpa.
Merkel, who grew up the daughter of a Protestant pastor, told Cologne-based Catholic radio station Domradio that "it would be nice if some continuity would be created."
She said she hoped the "next encyclical could also deal with the common goods or if this course that [Francis] has set of a pope who is close to humanity were simply continued."
A papal encyclical is a letter written by a pope to bishops.
In his last encyclical letter published in October, late pope Francis wrote about "The human and divine love of the heart of Jesus Christ," according to the document published by the Holy See.
Previous topics covered by him in encyclicals include "Fraternity and social friendship," and "On care for our common home."
Merkel, who is a member of Germany's centre-right Christian Democrats, described Francis as a very political pope who also radiated an "original piety" and made it very easy for people to develop trust in God.
The late pope approached everyone with open arms which had been very reassuring, the former German chancellor said.
She described Francis' predecessor, Benedict XVI as much more formal in theological terms.
"When it came to pope Francis, I didn't get the impression that it was about knowing certain things particularly well, but rather that he took people as people," Merkel, 70 said, adding that personally she found this approach very appealing.
- Angela Merkel
- New pope
- Francis’ footsteps
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
