Meant2Pope - 7QTF

RJ @Meant2Dad A Funny Catholic Dad Blog
Sep 25, 2015
4 min read

If there ever was anyone that was meant to be anything, I call dibs for Jorge Marie Bergoglio, a.k.a. Pope Francis, a.k.a. People's Pope, a.k.a. Pope of the Poor... I could go on. People are amazed, both Catholic and non. I just keep thinking, he's only doing what Jesus called all of us to do, be like him. Here's my stream of consciousness as I summarize what the Holy Father has done and said since arriving in America.

~ 1 ~

Pope Francis is quite the diplomat. Some people aren't liking this. Some people are upset he's not speaking enough on the "typical hot-button issues." Oh my gosh, I don't know about you, but I AM SO OUT OF THIS WORLD, JUMPING UP AND DOWN GIDDY that we're hearing the focus be on other issues that are often less discussed. Don't be fooled. His speeches and actions have VERY strong yet subtle subtext to them. For example:

Deciding to stop in Cuba to speak with the Castros before he came here. Pope Francis is largely THE moving force in the thaw between U.S. and Cuba relations, and if not THE force, h was a strong moving wind of change. Say what you will, but the Pope has Raul Castro thinking of the church again, and at Mass Pope Francis told the masses, "Serve people, not ideas." Yeah, don't know how much more Jesus, or strong you can get than that. Then he did a "Book and Song Drop," handing the former dictator CDs of songs and a book written by deceased Jesuit Rev. Armando Llorente, a former boyhood teacher of Castro's. Yes the same Jesuit whom Castro expelled when he came to power. FIDEL - READ THIS. What was a bit more surprising was hearing that Castro and Pope spoke at length on Laudato si' because Castro was very interested in it and ecology.

~ 2 ~

His first big "Uh, oh, there goes Francis, off script. Deviating from the itinerary..." moment was to visit the Little Sisters of the Poor. This after visiting the White House and the administration who has oft supported the quashing of religious liberties. Three years later, the nuns who just want to serve the poor and elderly are still tied up in court fighting for their conscience. How can there be any criticizing the Pope's statement of actions in support of our 1st Amendment free exercise of religion?

~ 3 ~

Photo courtesy of my cool cousins: Dennis, Jennifer, Evie, & Charlie. Way to be in the right place!

He rides around in a Fiat 500L. I saw some joke on the net that he called Uber. He wears normal black priest shoes. He declines lunch with members of the United States Congress and dines at Catholic Charities with homeless, the poor, the marginalized. Remind us of anyone who was born homeless in a stable?

~ 4 ~

Yes, our Pope spoke to a joint session of Congress. First time, you history buffs. In the prior address the most important takeaway IMHO and what I've blogged about before is that our economic society isn't pro-family enough. I probably couldn't express better than National Catholic Register reporter, Jonathan Liedl,

"The family is under threat... also from economic factors that make starting a family difficult or not even desirable. Francis struck an interesting paradox on this point, noting how the great gap in income and opportunity for young adults in our country stymies the emergence of stable families in two ways: the poor can’t afford to get married and have kids, while the rich are too preoccupied with an overabundance of self-indulgent distractions."

~ 5 ~

He also spoke to the Bishops of America. He told them, "Be pastors close to people, pastors who are neighbors and servants. Let this closeness be expressed in a special way towards your priests. Support them, so that they can continue to serve Christ with an undivided heart, for this alone can bring fulfillment to ministers of Christ." He continues, and in a very poignant way. I read this as saying, don't forget you're a pastor of pastors first and foremost.

~ 6 ~

We need to have a spirit of gratitude and hard work. He calls them the "two pillars of spiritual life." "The joy of men and women who love God attracts others to him." It's beautiful that he's giving such a voice to the poor, the disabled (see second reader at the canonization mass of Junípero Serra), the immigrant, and the marginzalized. A grateful heart leads us to service.

~ 7 ~

Good for Pope Francis on being a little bit of a politician this week. In my mind he's beating them at their own game. He has the attention of all nations tomorrow at the United Nations. I mean what other celebrity is able to have the TOP FOUR Facebook trends when I logged on this morning?