Francis: A Pope For The People

Why are even those of us who aren’t Catholic surprised and delighted by this new leader of the Catholic Church?  Perhaps it is because Pope Francis’ familiar, “regular guy” style has already made a down-to-earth impression on the world.Tomorrow in Rome, Pope Francis will officially be installed to his new position.  The world  will be watching.  We are fascinated by this new leader. It seems people, especially those in the media, aren’t sure what to make of this simple man who has suddenly, and very unexpectedly had a rise to power.

We have become accustomed to those who enjoy celebrity of any kind, even a Pope, to be somewhat extravagant in their lifestyle and perhaps even at times indulged.  So it is very refreshing to see that the choice made for the man who heads the Catholic church, and is in many ways the symbol of Christendom at large, is a person of great humility.  Upon his first public appearance as he emerged on the balcony at the Vatican as the new Pope, he surprised many with his request.  He did not first bless the people looking on and pray for them as most would have expected the new pontiff to do.  Instead, there came a humble request.  “I ask a favor of you … pray for me,” he urged the cheering crowds.  What a simple but strong message to send.  He knows his job is immense, he knows despite his new title he is still but a man.  The task before him is enormous…he needs the prayers of the people and he is humble enough to ask for them.

When he also refused to use a platform that would have elevated him above the cardinals surrounding him when he spoke for the first time on that Vatican balcony he sent that message that he did not need to be above his fellow priests, rather he sought to be one of them.

This place of humility was not new to Pope Francis, the motto for his archdiocese in Argentina having been “Miserando Atque Eligendo,” or “Lowly but Chosen.”  As the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he reportedly rode the bus to work, and did his own cooking.  Rather than living in an archbishop’s palace, as would have been expected, he chose to live in a small room in a downtown Buenos Aires home.  He regularly was among the common people and often visited the poor in the Argentine slums.

“It is true that going out onto the street implies the risk of accidents happening, as they would to any ordinary man or woman. But if the Church stays wrapped up in itself, it will age. And if I had to choose between a wounded Church that goes out onto the streets and a sick withdrawn Church, I would definitely choose the first one.”

In the same way that Diana brought the monarchy to the common people, and became known as ‘the people’s Princess’, now Pope Francis seems to seek to bring the church and a living faith to the common man and woman.  Diane was, and still is, beloved for her caring heart and touch on peoples’ lives, people who would never have expected someone of her position to take the time for them.  Likewise prior to his election, Pope Francis has been one to do just that.  He was known for taking time as Archbishop to visit with those with HIV and AIDS and to wash their feet, as well as caring for and defending single mothers.
In September of 2012, he disciplined priests who were denying baptism to the children of single mothers, calling them “the hypocrites who have clericalized the Church; who have alienated the People of God from salvation.” He has also been regarded as a “courageous and zealous pastor with a particular sensibility for the Jewish people and the Christians of the Middle East”.

You needn’t be a Catholic, or a Christian of any denomination, or even a person of any kind of faith at all to identify and recognize goodness, kindness and humility.  Nor do you need to be a Princess or a Pope to show goodness, kindness and humility towards others.  Regardless of who we are or what position in life we have assumed, we are never too high, or too low, to have a caring heart towards other people, especially those who are overlooked in our society or who have been cast aside.  We love these qualities in Diana, and now in Pope Francis, precisely because they are unexpected, because they are genuine…we love them because they give us hope.  And when we choose to be good, kind, humble, loving people ourselves we have the opportunity to share the gift of hope with someone else.

A smile, a touch, a kind word costs any one of us very little, but it can be an enormous gift that  brings love, joy and a feeling of abundance to someone who may be in great need.  Today and everyday, you have the chance to share that gift….don’t waste that chance!