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John Moody on why Pope Francis was picked and how his humility sets the stage for his papacy
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An odd day go 24 hours ago you have heard me say the name and boat trip for the first time -- marry no blood no audio.
You probably haven't heard of him before haven't been mentioned anywhere so three hours later at 3 PM yesterday you -- thinking.
How is Fox News that's not what if -- regular -- we will know very well that it had nothing whatsoever to do with -- It was old -- with a man sitting to my right right now have John Moody who is of course executive vice president and executive editor of Fox News.
And -- of Pope John Paul the second a biography.
Personal thank you for making this all looks not it was my pleasure I -- I -- vision to our -- I had I woke up yesterday morning to an email from John.
Which means I woke up about 10 AM.
To begin with and it said dad do some research on this guy.
And I did.
And who would -- It's possible to what many do you think that this guy was really in the running I wish I could take the credit it's it's -- -- -- some some friends and old colleagues in Rome some of whom got in touch with me.
And said look all the talk is about Angelo Scola the arch -- of Milan.
If he was going to be elected Pope quickly -- would have happened already.
They must be looking for somebody else.
Archbishop Virgo Leo -- now Francis.
Was reportedly.
Beat number two vote getter in the 2005 conclave that produced Benedict the sixteenth.
People remember things like that especially cardinals who have -- -- at the previous conclave.
And so -- I think it became.
A very fast moving episode for them to think well maybe it's not time for cardinal from -- -- Who else do we know who we trust what are his qualities and as Lauren Green pointed out very nicely -- piece there.
You know that the humility of the man the fact that he is one of the people.
Probably propelled his candidacy faster than anything else is it is that.
These.
The single greatest quality that he will bring do you -- all -- other other reasons that they other reasons on top of that and equal to that that they have selected it it there's always a mixture of divine inspiration and geopolitical reality when you're talking about the Vatican.
However I think that yesterday's vote told us several things one.
They wanted a pastoral Pope that means somebody who'd been in charge of an archdiocese have gone out and seeing people seeing their troubles talk to them.
Understood what regular people are thinking about -- but what it's not just what Catholics -- thinking the Pope is also the head of a very large institution called the Roman Catholic Church.
-- -- to reach out to.
Countries where the Catholic population is very small countries where the Catholic population is being persecuted and he -- to try to do something to improve their lives so there was that aspect of it.
And then I think the fact that he was from Argentina.
-- massively Catholic country.
And that he has this wonderful story to tell -- -- of personal humility of rejecting the trappings of power and authority.
This is a man that's going to make a difference that he did as soon as he stepped onto the -- over Saint Peter's Square.
I get what you can what do you think of that moment when he said before before I bless you.
I ask you to pray and lets me do it -- how significant.
Is that.
What you're listening to that as a Catholic in particular he could not have been staged any better by a Hollywood director.
Every aspect of it was perfect he came out and said in beautiful Italian wanna set up.
Good evening folks etc.
he was immediately one of them.
Naturally he speaks Italian because his father was an Italian immigrant to.
Argentina and so he had -- a positive thing going for him right there.
The thing that was most striking to me was when he said before I bless you please we pray for me and -- Saint Peter's Square went silent.
At that moment and as he engaged in.
In meditation.
We hope everybody in the square started praying for him it was a beautifully staged moment.
And I think it's set the stage for the state since I do you have you a piece of foxnews.com now -- our opinion pages a fact that moment as well.
And that the whole the challenges that that lay ahead book the Pope process and one of the things you mentioned to me yesterday.
Was reforming the internal politics the curia has -- -- -- Yeah look it's it's a broken machine right now and we can be nice about it we can talk about divine inspiration -- center.
Securian needs to be fixed and it might have to be fixed rather.
Radically.
This is a Pope who can -- win and say.
I know what's going on here I'm going to make changes you're going to resign I'm going to appoint so and so.
There's going to be a new curious by the end of year and I would not be at all surprised if that's the case how tough.
A job is that in reality.
No tougher than deposing the entire board of directors by the fortune 500 companies oh that's.
But but yet he is in a purse particular position now.
There's no doubt about having a mandate he's got it.
It depends on how he wants to proceed to see one who encourage some resignations because there -- tired and done their best and thank you very much -- here's a gold watch possibly.
If they refuse it could just be you know it's time for you to step aside and -- liberals in terms of the at the Catholic Church animal widely.
Have already been pointing to.
I guess what we would call a traditional -- conservative.
Standpoint that Pope -- -- -- has it had in the past at least.
Along gay marriage on abortion on contraception.
That was important to the Catholic Church as it stands right now it.
In a scale of one to a hundred those probably rank and in the low sixties.
For the Catholic Church hierarchy right now.
This is not to say that these are not issues for Americans.
Let's put let's even say for north Americans.
But the Pope his retinue and and the -- governing.
Body of the Catholic Church is not thinking about that right now.
Do they want to try to get to the bottom.
The sexual abuse scandals that has -- the church absolutely and they must go to Catholic should never be the victim of a priest -- should always be the beneficiary of -- So that we'll have to be undertaken in a serious matter but the social concerns that seemed to.
Fascinates Americans see Psycho sexual issues are just not on the radar room who are -- -- before I let you go John he's a Pope fronts this is older than many people had predicted the couples would.
-- today he's 76 years old.
Is there a significance and that does it does it what does it suggest that this might have been -- -- -- at least in terms.
In terms of people rains.
Shoulder eight years' tenure as well becoming the actuarial tables of the same for Pope is they -- for -- plumber so after a certain amount of time the body wears out.
Yes I think it's.
Fair to say that that most people expect that this -- he would be.
Ten years or less.
Good thing about that is he has nothing to lose him and -- going to do what he thinks is right get it done and then handed over to the next -- but of course is way too early to be talking about.
-- -- It way too early to be Tony -- next presidential election -- the next vote.
-- process as we say will be holdings celebrating his first mass today it will be fascinating to watch and beautiful -- all this -- that that was what really struck me yesterday.
For even somebody who is a non Catholic the scenes of ceremony of drama and the season just -- would -- only.
In front of the Vatican were really something to behold that love them -- -- -- Catholics know how to put on -- show up.
That is -- -- John Moody who predicted.
The -- -- would indeed be the new Pope executive vice president and executive editor of folks he's an author of Pope John -- second.
A biography great to see you and -- to get your expertise again don't thank you so much.
