If you’re like me, you just want to read anything you can about Pope Francis.  I am currently reading Pope Francis, Our Brother, Our Friend: Personal Recollections about the Man Who Became Pope.  It is a collection of interviews with twenty people who are well acquainted with him.  This first selection is by Father Ángel Rossi.  Father Bergoglio was in charge of his formation during his years of studies.  Here is the beginning of his reflection:

What I always remember about the figure of Bergoglio is that he was a spiritual man, a man of prayer.  Bergoglio is a “pray-er:” a man who brings things first to prayer. Without wanting to go around measuring with a stopwatch, I would say that he prayed for at least three hours per day, and I’m sure he continues doing it because he is an early riser.  When we would get up at 6:30 or 7:00 to go to Mass, Bergoglio would have already prayed and already washed the sheets and towels for 150 Jesuits in the laundry room.  He would have already washed them and already hung them up when we were only just starting to get on our feet.

To be continued tomorrow . . . .