Dribbles of the reformer

Pope Francis reformed Vatican finances, promoted transparency, and built a Church closer to the poor

- BY FR WILLIAM NELLIKAL

I HAD THE privilege of working alongside Pope Francis long before the world knew him by that name. To me, he was Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. As I look back on my 13 years at the Vatican—from 2009 to 2022—working on the Malayalam edition of Vatican News, I feel nostalgic and proud.

I lived on the second floor of a serene Vatican residence called Domus Internationalis, very close to the Roman Senate. In 2010 I stayed in Room 211, and by sheer chance I came to know Cardinal Bergoglio, who lived in Room 205. Occasionally I used to carry his bag, as he had a small trouble with his leg.

Cardinal Bergoglio loved the house. He was a broad-shouldered, kind man who cherished solitude. Often I would find him deep in prayer at the chapel in the residence. Once I invited him to join us for breakfast. He smiled and declined, saying he didn't usually eat breakfast, but instead he welcomed me into his room for a cup of coffee.

When the white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel in 2013, signalling the election of a new Pope, I was in tears as I saw Cardinal Bergoglio emerge on the Central Balcony of St Peter's Basilica. Dressed in a simple white cassock, in his calm, slow Italian, he addressed the world. It was a deeply moving moment—my friend was now the Pope.

Though I had fewer opportunities to speak with him after he became the Pope, I closely followed his journey— and his attempts to build a new, reformed church.