The article reflects on the late pontiff’s view of empowering the poor as a counter to unregulated capitalism, citing his time in Dublin as a formative period. Despite this connection, a conversation with Pope Francis years later revealed little memory of his brief stay in Ireland. The piece highlights the vague impressions left on him during that time and his unsuccessful attempt to learn English, reflecting on the juxtaposition between his later influence and those early experiences.
The late pontiff saw the empowerment of the poor as the great antidote to the 'might is right' law of the jungle of unregulated capitalism.
It's impossible to discern what lasting impression Ireland made on the future Pope Francis when the then Fr Jorge Bergoglio lived in Dublin in the chilly winter months of 1980.
Shortly after his election as pope 33 years later, I met him in Rome and asked him about his time in Ranelagh.
The fact that we conversed in Italian perhaps too revealed that his plan to learn English in Dublin had not been a roaring success.
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