CNN) -- For an institution that moves glacially, instant analysis is as impossible as it is unwise. Yet first impressions are important.

Our initial glimpse of the new pope was curiously disconcerting. e stood there impassive and unemotional. e loo!ed stunned, without almost any reaction at all e"cept, perhaps, awe or even fear of the moment. #uddenly, his eyes seemed to open wide, as if he was really seeing the position for which he had been chosen less than an hour before. $nd then he spo!e, not with the power of physical force or energy but with something stronger% humility. &ith the election of Cardinal 'orge (ario )ergoglio of )uenos $ires as pope, the *oman Catholic Church enters the ne"t chapter of her history. $nd yet, as often happens in the church, she turns to her past for inspiration and even innovation. #o we have the first pope to be elected from the #ociety of 'esus, !nown as the 'esuits, who were founded by +gnatius of ,oyola in the -.th century while Catholicism reeled from /rotestant challenges. Yet this 'esuit ta!es the name Francis from the humble servant of medieval $ssisi who began the Franciscan order 011 years before +gnatius. Francis too! to the balcony with the word 2bishop2 crossing his lips more than 2pope2 or 2pontiff.2 e referred to himself first as the bishop of *ome and to )enedict 34+ not as retired pope but emeritus bishop. 5here was something genuine about the way he referred to the 6ourney of faith as one that he and the faithful ta!e together in love and trust. e as!ed for help and the favor of a prayer -- but this wasn7t the standard 2pray for me.2 /ope Francis bowed to receive that prayer from the people of 8od he now serves. Opinion% Francis, open up the church ,oo!ing bac! at the monthlong e"amination of conscience that Catholics, 4aticanwatchers and the cardinals have undergone, what does Francis face9 &hat will he do based on his own e"perience9 5he cardinals7 pre-conclave meetings seemed to reveal a particular 6ob description, but the rumors and lea!s seemed to have been wrong. 5his man is :. and not in his .1s. e has not wor!ed full-time in the 4atican7s head;uarters, called the curia, raising immediate ;uestions about how he will reform the institution7s central administration. +t is hard, at least initially and under deadline, to discover how he acted when faced with clerical se"ual abuse, although we have heard less of this awful situation in ,atin $merica than in the <nited #tates and +reland. Francis does seem to be a moderate who is respected by and can wor! with people sitting on different benches along the ideological spectrum. e is friendly with the conservative organi=ation Communione e ,ibera=ione and yet li!e 'ohn /aul ++ embraces the church7s lively sense of fairness and 6ustice when it comes to the poor and middle class left out by rampant capitalism and its twin temptation, the gospel of prosperity. $s archbishop, he too! a bus to wor! and lived in a small apartment. ,i!e +gnatius, he has a reputation for using his mind to solve a problem but his heart to ma!e a decision. ,i!e Francis of $ssisi, he operates within the world of an ordained clergy while not being drowned in self-serving clerical ran! and privilege. #o what /ope Francis seems to bring, at least at a first glance, is personal authenticity and

credibility. )oth are critical precursors to change. (any people want change, it is true, but any proposals that might or might not come won7t mean a thing unless a new spirit of credibility and trust flows down the 5iber throughout the planet7s oceans to the world7s -.> billion Catholics. For too long, it seems that the curia has been about power, which is not the same thing as authentic authority. /eople respond with lasting love to authority but with only temporary fear to power. For too long, the people in the pews have felt distanced from their priests, bishops and the 4atican. 5hat is not the gospel of love and service that 'esus preached. Yet it is precisely the gospel that Francis of $ssisi and +gnatius ,oyola learned from 'esus and shared with the world in word and deed. $ global church 25his choice will ma!e us a true world church,2 )ernd ?lasch!a, head of $dveniat, the 8erman Catholic relief organi=ation for #outh $merica, says to @&. $fter all, )ergoglio7s selection shows the 2trust in the development of the church in ,atin $merica.2 ?lasch!a is sure that not only ,atinos, but all of the -.> billion Catholics worldwide, will ;uic!ly grow to love the new pope. 2 e will win them over with his self-deprecating and humble manner.2 Only two wee!s ago, 'orge )ergoglio was appointed to the papal commission by )enedict 34+ as one of his final acts in office. 5he :.-year-old )ergoglio, archbishop of )uenos $ires, had offered his resignation from that post to )enedict a year ago because of his age. 5hat is also the reason why he wasn7t one of the favorites in the conclave to succeed )enedict. Critical of the Catholic Church )ergoglio !ept his distance from the Curia. )ut now it loo!s li!e his dauntless criticism of the 4atican7s scandals brought him respect from his peers, the cardinals. 5he biggest problems of the church were the seculari=ation, the sin!ing spirituality and its overambitious members, )ergoglio said in an interview with the +talian newspaper ,a #tampa. )ergoglio limited his participation in the Curia to the congregations for @ivine &orship and the @iscipline of the #acraments, and Clergy. +n )uenos $ires, where he7s been bishop since -AA>, he doesn7t shy away from confrontation. $t the beginning of ,ent, he demanded that people should 2turn away from the power of money and corruption that $rgentina has gotten used to,2 which he said would destroy families and the whole society. Fran=-'osef Overbec!, a bishop from Bssen in the 8erman state of North *hine-

&estphalia, lin!s the social criticism to )ergoglio7s education as a 'esuit. 2$s a 'esuit, he !nows what it means to follow 'esus, that it means to follow the poor,2 Overbec! said to @&. 25hat7s why he !nows about the benefits of liberation theology, which was developed in ,atin $merica.2 (ore power to laymen ?lasch!a, the $dveniat head, is sure that the new pope will strengthen the laity in the church. 25here are parishes in ,atin $merica with C1,111 to A1,111 members,2 ?lasch!a says. 5raining laity is thus 2on top of the list2 for )ergoglio. +n the future, parishioners will be able to celebrate oly Communion with pre-blessed hosts - and without a priest - according to ?lasch!a. 5hat vision is unthin!able in 8ermany as of yet. 2)ut it7s not a problem for )ergoglio,2 ?lasch!a believes. 2&e don7t have to loo! at the church with such a strong focus on priests, and he !nows that.2 ?lasch!a considers the church in ,atin $merica a pioneer in new developments. 2&e can learn a lot from Christians in ,atin $merica,2 he says, 2that life isn7t 6ust lived through the mind, but through the heart as well.2 )ergoglio also made that clear when he bowed on the #t. /eter7s )asilica7s balcony right after being elected, according to ?lasch!a% 2 e didn7t raise his armsD there were no authoritative gestures.2 )ut the new pope7s modesty and humility don7t mean he lac!s assertiveness. 2 e7s a modern man, but he !nows how to lead, and you won7t be able to play him,2 says ?lasch!a, who has !nown )ergoglio since >11:. 2Cambia, todo cambia2 - ,atin $merica7s voice will now be heard in *ome.