Towards the end of the recent papal conclave inside the Sistine Chapel, two things happened to elected Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio.

One cardinal next to him guessed he would be elected and advised him: “Don’t forget the poor.” Another cardinal then told him: “You should choose the name Clement. You would be Clement XV. Clement XIV had suppressed the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1773, at the threats and instigation of four Catholic rulers of Europe, who were actually Masonic and anti-Catholic, as part of the so-called Enlightenment sweeping Europe. The Jesuits always defended the Pope, it is one of their vows.”

The first difficulties facing the brave and steadfast Jesuits had appeared in the Reducciones, or Missions of Paraguay, where they were caring for and educating the poor Indios. Then, it spread like wildfire from Portugal (Pombal) to France (Choiseul), to Bourbon Spain, Naples and also to Malta (Grandmaster Pinto).

Between 1773 and 1814, the Jesuits were suppressed but still survived somehow in Protestant Prussia, Orthodox Russia and, especially, in Poland. In 1814, a wise Pope Pius VII, who had suffered captivity in France under Napoleon, resurrected and confirmed them.

In 2013, with a Jesuit Pope, their traumatic hurts of the 1773 suppression have been swept away for good. And we can expect great things from this great, simple Pope. With his chosen name, Francis, he is roping in the Franciscans all over the world, as the Bishop of Rome.

May he be holy and wise, spreading goodness and joy, as he is doing already. More beautiful surprises are in store. Maybe a warmer rapprochement with Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. Perhaps a new opening to China, in the footsteps of Fr Matteo Ricci SJ. Possibly a new positive dialogue and some good results with worldwide Moslem leaders.

The typical ‘bergoglioso’ thing about him is that he is still wearing plain black shoes. This is not shameful (Italian: vergognoso) but ascetic and poor. He is one of us.