As a bishop in Peru, Leo XIV has already implemented Francis' proposals,
and "he is going to continue like that, evidently adding his own
style," Auxiliary Bishop Alberto Bochatey of La Plata, Argentina, told
LaNacion.com.ar in May.
Like Leo XIV, Monsignor Bochatey is an
Augustinian. They were both born in 1955, lived together at the
Augustinianum in Rome, and have been good friends for over 30 years.
They served together on commissions in Latin America. In March 2013,
Father Prevost traveled to Argentina to accompany his friend at his
episcopal ordination.
Some days before the papal election, the
auxiliary bishop had contact with Cardinal Prevost and, in May, was
received in audience by Pope Leo XIV.
Monsignor Bochatey believes
that Pope Francis "discovered" Father Prevost, made him a bishop in
2014, gave him two complicated dioceses in Peru to administer, made him a
member of the Dicastery for Bishops, appointed him Prefect and
Cardinal: "It's as if Francis had pointed the finger at him. He was one
of the cardinals he saw with hope."
The Auxiliary Bishop added: "I think Leo XIV will undoubtedly follow the great lines proposed by Francis."
Leo
XIV is a "more serene man" than Francis, "We will not see him drinking
mate in the square. He will be less disruptive, but that does not mean
he will go backwards."
Bishop Bochatey laughed at some of the
comments about the red papal mozzetta and living in the Apostolic
Palace. "He is going to do it because he is more formal than Francis. My
grandfather would have said he is a very well educated gentleman who is
going to keep the forms. However, he is going to renew the contents,
without any doubt."
The bishop added that Robert Prevost has had "great respect and affection for Francis".
"We
mustn't forget that he worked closely with Francis for the past two
years. They met every Saturday to discuss about bishops and surely many
other topics."
And, "Francis gave him a lot of support. He always considered him as one of the hopes."
Picture: © Mazur, CC BY-NC-ND, #newsCravqovceq