By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Peoples pontif earns praise from religious leaders
Local Catholics, clergy credit Pope Francis for his humility, sincerity
0420pope 1
Leaders at The John Paul II Training Center talk Friday about Pope Francis. From left, mission director Felicia Newton, lead missionary Mattheus Uijttewaal and president Paul Perez. - photo by NAT GURLEY
When Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, became the first non-European pope in 1,200 years in March 2013, he also carried a burden of expectation. Pope Francis has met that ­— and then some — members of the local religious community say. “John Paul II and Benedict the XVI, they wanted people to come outside themselves and help others,” said Paul Perez, president of the John Paul II Training Center in Gainesville.