John Allen pens an article entitled, A reminder that this Jesuit pope is also highly Franciscan. As always, I find his reflections thoughtful.

Yes, Pope Francis is a Jesuit to his core, from his spirituality to his leadership style, and that’s especially clear now as the Jesuits meet in Rome. Yet there’s a sense in which, despite that Jesuit background, this is nonetheless also a deeply “Franciscan” papacy… yes, he’s very much a Jesuit, but there’s also a deeply “Franciscan” imprint to his papacy.

It is a fine article well worth reading.

But this article  reminded me of a reflection I wrote back in March 2013 Francis and Vincent on Mercy.

Again, April 2015. Pope Francis – Jesuit, Franciscan, Vincentian.

Visitors to .famvin have seen many posts pointing to the affinity between Pope Francis and St. Vincent. Here is the latest … “Christians could kneel in veneration when a poor person enters the church.” Echos of Vincent … “The poor who are our Lords and Masters are our reason for existence.” (Cf. CED, IX, 125, 211 and 214)

Other Vincentians have been struck by the similarity between Francis, Vincent and other heroes of our Vincentian heritage..

Aidan Rooney writes in July 2015  Are you sure he’s not Vincentian?

In October 2015, Dr. Joann Heaney-Hunter wrote  Pope Francis’ words and actions sound like St. Vincent.

And then there was Vincent, Rosalie and the Pope – Getting to know Jesus. reminding us that he said “Read what the Church tells you about Him, talk to Him in prayer and walk the street with him.

Thus, will you know who this man is. Remember that Blessed Rosalie Rendu, DC said she never prayed so well as in the streets.

Mother Teresa, Pope Francis and the Vincentian Connection. Sept 2016

I suspect that visitors to this site have noted many other connections with the Vincentian tradition.

Please share comments on any similarities that have struck you.