1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,640 Speaker 1: So Marke O'Connor is the Australian Catholic journalist with us 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: from the Vatican. We have a new Pope, Leo the fourteenth. 3 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:08,719 Speaker 1: He is American, sixty nine years old, born in Chicago, 4 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: French Italian roots, thought to be a bridge between the 5 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 1: progressives and the conservatives. Mark joins us now from the Vatican. 6 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 2: Mark, good morning, good morning, yes, or good evening here 7 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 2: almost good evening. Oh, it's a great it's a great evening, 8 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 2: an amazing atmosphere and an amazing choice. I couldn't be happier. 9 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 2: You know. I had an hour with him on April 10 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 2: the fifteenth in Rtingham to Australia's and probably that's not 11 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 2: going to happen now. But you know, he's a man 12 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 2: who is rooted in being with ordinary people. He worked 13 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:44,879 Speaker 2: in Peru as a Greece for fifteen years and then 14 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 2: as a bishop in you know, amongst four people. He's 15 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:52,240 Speaker 2: actually also not only an American, he's also a Peruvian citizen. 16 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 2: He speaks perfect Spanish, he's a linguist, and he was 17 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 2: also the Superior General of the Augustinian Fathers in Rome 18 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 2: for several years. He's an international person and of course 19 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 2: he speaks Perfecttorian as as you might have seen it 20 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 2: on the balconist a few minutes ago. So yeah, and 21 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 2: the first words he said were peace, peace in this 22 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 2: world of Gaza and conflict and the conflict that's this 23 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 2: in Ukraine. And he's going to be the piece. And 24 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 2: he's taken the name Leah the thirteenth, So Leah the 25 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 2: fourteenth deliberately because Leah the thirteenth was the great Pope 26 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 2: of social justice teaching in the church and of reaching 27 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 2: out to marginalized, the first great pope who really took 28 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 2: the side of the working class with his great in 29 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 2: cyclical rerem Navaram. So yeah, I'm excited. I think it's fantastic. 30 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 2: Apart from the fact that, you know, I had a 31 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 2: lovely hour with him. He's a very charming, quiet he's not, 32 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 2: you know, the charismatic figure of Pope Francis. You're never 33 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 2: going to get another Pape Francis. He's quite unique. But 34 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 2: he's just lovely, warm, caring human being who tried, who 35 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 2: is going to try and build bridges, and he's very 36 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 2: much in the spirit of Pope Francis. They've certainly gone 37 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 2: for continuity of continuing the vision and the mission of princis. 38 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 2: We were a little bit worried, some of us that 39 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 2: you know, there were there were voices saying, you know, 40 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 2: let's go back to the past, that the new Pope 41 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 2: Lea of the fourteenth will take us with great joy 42 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 2: and hope into the future. And he's well loved and 43 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 2: well trusted also in the Roman Curia by many many people. 44 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 2: So yeah, I think it's you know, I'm I have 45 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 2: to say, I'm ecstatic. I think, what does it mean 46 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 2: beyond my wildest dreams? Mark, what does it mean? What 47 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 2: does it mean? 48 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: The fact it took it it was only four rounds 49 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:34,519 Speaker 1: quicker than than Francis. 50 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 2: Well, it means it means that they that they came 51 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 2: pretty quickly into the decision that he was the right man. 52 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 2: He was elected more quickly than than Cardinal Ratzinger was elected, 53 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 2: you know, Pope Benedict. You know, it was very, very quick. 54 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 2: We were all surprised. I was in the Vatican Press 55 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 2: office when it happened, you know, and then there was 56 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 2: this enormous roar of the crowd. And then when his 57 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 2: name came through that you know that it was that 58 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,959 Speaker 2: it was Robert prevost et cetera. I mean, like it's 59 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,920 Speaker 2: just extraordinary. I know I'm standing a little bit at 60 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 2: a little bit emotional at the moment, sorry, but like 61 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 2: it's it is, you know, something that those of us 62 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 2: who really love Pepe Francis were a bit worried that 63 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 2: somebody might appear who might, you know, sort of slow 64 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 2: things down a bit. But this guy, he's moderate, he's calm, 65 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 2: he's you know, he's a person of prayer. But he's 66 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,519 Speaker 2: also a person who's quite determined, you know, to continue 67 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 2: the vision of the church reforming itself and reaching out 68 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 2: to the world and to the poor into the suffering. 69 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 2: But you know, it was sonignant, but the very first 70 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 2: words that he said were peaces. He will you know, 71 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 2: in this world at the moment, with your Gaza in 72 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 2: your crome, we desperately need peacemakers and he you know, 73 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 2: you know, he's going to be an authentic, credible voice 74 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,839 Speaker 2: that will give hope to many people. I think, Mark 75 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 2: really including a lot of non Catholics. 76 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time, and there's nothing wrong with 77 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: being a little bit emotional. In fact, I think Pope 78 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: Leo was a little bit emotional standing on the balcony 79 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: of the Vatican earlier this morning. Thanks very much for 80 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: your time. That's Mark O'Connor, Australian Catholic journalists with us. 81 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 2: For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge. Listen live 82 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 2: to news Talks it'd be from five am weekdays, or 83 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 2: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.