Bishop and Good Friend of Leo XIV: "He Will Keep the Forms, But Change the Contents"
Monsignor Bochatey is an Augustinian like Leo XIV. They were both born in 1955, lived together at the Augustinianum in Rome, and have been good friends for over 30 years. They served together on commissions in Latin America. In March 2013, Father Prevost traveled to Argentina to accompany his friend at his episcopal ordination.
Some days before the conclave, the auxiliary bishop had contact with Cardinal Prevost and, in May, was received in audience by Pope Leo XIV.
Monsignor Bochatey believes that Pope Francis "discovered" Father Prevost, and then made him a bishop in 2014, gave him two complicated dioceses in Peru to administer, made him a member of the Dicastery for Bishops, appointed him Prefect and Cardinal: "It's as if Francis had pointed the finger at him. He was one of the cardinals he saw with hope."
The Auxiliary Bishop added: "I think Leo XIV will undoubtedly follow the great lines proposed by Francis."
Leo XIV is a "more serene man" than Francis, "We will not see him drinking mate in the square. He will be less disruptive, but that does not mean he will go backwards [to the 1960s?]."
Bishop Bochatey laughed at some of the comments about the red papal mozzetta and living in the Apostolic Palace. "He is going to do it because he is more formal than Francis. My grandfather would have said he is a very well educated gentleman who is going to keep the forms. However, he is going to renew the contents, without any doubt."
The bishop added that Robert Prevost has had "great respect and affection for Francis".
"We mustn't forget that he worked closely with Francis for the past two years. They met every Saturday to discuss about bishops and surely many other topics."
And, "Francis gave him a lot of support. He always considered him as one of the hopes."
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