Sixteen Catholic bishops from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska met Francis Feb. 3. They came away encouraged by the Holy Father’s openness and what they termed his “openness” in his conversation with them.
From National Catholic Reporter:
Bishops from the northwestern United States spent more than two and half hours with Pope Francis and came away talking about his small gestures and, especially, his understanding and encouragement.
Sixteen bishops — including auxiliaries and retired bishops — from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska met Francis Feb. 3 at the beginning of their weeklong “ad limina” visit to the Vatican.
Three spoke to Catholic News Service afterward but declined to give specifics about the topics covered out of respect for the pope, they said.
Archbishop Alexander K. Sample of Portland told CNS that even though he had heard from other bishops about Francis’ unique style for the “ad limina” visits and his desire for a free, open discussion, “I never imagined it, just the fraternity that was in the room. It was remarkable.”
The pope started things off, he said, by telling them “to not hold anything back” because they, as brother bishops, needed “to be able to talk to each other like this” and have “a very open and honest exchange with one another.”
The atmosphere and conversation were so friendly and comfortable, he said, that “after a while, I almost had to stop and remind myself, we’re talking to the pope.”
The pope spoke “from the heart,” saying things that he obviously had reflected on deeply and had come “from a place of deep prayer,” Sample said. “It will be truly something I will remember forever.”
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