Havana cardinal says Francis made strong critique of Catholic Church at papal conclave

Published January 13, 2015

Havana's Roman Catholic cardinal says Pope Francis made a strong criticism of the church just hours before he was selected as the new pontiff.

Cardinal Jaime Ortega says then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio called for the Vatican to emerge from self-absorption and what he called "theological narcissism."

He urged the church to refocus its energy on the "peripheries," not only geographical but existential: sin, suffering, injustice and ignorance.

Bergoglio's comments were made to the College of Cardinals as it met in a conclave to choose a new pope.

Ortega's account was published Tuesday in Cuban Catholic magazine "Palabra Nueva."

Bergoglio was named pontiff March 13 and subsequently chose Francis as his papal name.

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