Francis of Rome

I was a bit surprised by our new Pope, in fact I was quite sad last night, the reason I think was beause I hadn't had a period to mourn his predecessor. Pope Francis' appearance on the balcony was a shock, the other shock was he is not Benedict XVI.

I was quite upset by one blog's vicious criticism of him, written by those wolves that tear and rend Christ's flock. It showed a weakness of faith. It is not for loyal Catholics to judge Christ's Vicar on Earth but to thank God for him and to accept the food he gives us, the lambs and sheep of the Lord's flock.

I would have loved Benedict's papacy to go on and on, this was neither his own will or the will of God, God and Benedict are wiser than the vicious wolves who would undermine the trust of the little ones. This is a grave and serious sin against the unity of the Church. True Catholics are docile to the Holy Spirit and see the election of a Pope as being the action of the Holy Spirit.

I was pleased to hear that he turned up at S. Maria Maggiore to pray before the principle Roman image of the Mother God, I was pleased he gave his first blessing to a pregnant woman who happened to be there early in the morning. I like the idea of Bishops turning up just to pray and I like the idea of the Bishop of Rome doing it even more.

I would not have chosen Francis, God has. God rarely gives us what we want but he always gives what we need, we need Pope Francis. And the more we think about it and pray about it the more it will become apparent why God has given his Church this man as a gift.

From my reading over the last few hours one of the chief reasons we have been given his is to connect theology and faith with our actions which is at least as important as connecting faith and theology with liturgy.
Part of the "rupture" that has taken place in the recent history of the Church is the seperation of faith and works, faith and justice, faith and morals, faith and service.

I hope Papa Francis will from time to time be found in the confessionals of Roman churches, appearing without notice in the cities seminaries and monasteries and encourage members of the Curia to be out working with homeless immigrants or trafficked women or teaching children the faith. I have said before that I would love to see the best minds in the Church evangelising and catechising or even just praying in the Churches of Rome. With all those priest, seminarians and religious Rome should be the most Christian, the most Holy city on earth, a model for the Church. I really do believe it could become so with Francis of Rome.

Let us pray for him, that he may not flee from the wolves.