Jesuit, Personal Friend of Francis, Dead

Argentina born Jesuit Father Diego Fares, 66, a writer for Civiltà Cattolica since 2016, has died in Rome after a painful sickness.

He entered the Jesuits in 1976 when Bergoglio was the provincial and remained his follower throughout his life.

Bergoglio – who then was a neo-con - became his spiritual director and a point of reference. Fares wrote a doctorate about Hans Urs von Balthasar, an important theologian for the neo-cons.

The two met for the last time on July 10. Riccardo Cristiano (Formiche.net, July 20) related a story he heard from Fares himself. When Fares was ordained a priest in 1986, Bergoglio asked him: "Are you sure you know what you are doing?"

Fares replied, "No".

Bergoglio then said: 'Thank goodness' [Italian: “meno male”].

Picture: © Jean-Pierre Bodjoko SJ, #newsXysshhenob