Novelty or Necessity?
At 6:00pm on Thursday, May 8th, eagerly anticipated white smoke appeared over St. Peter’s Square in Rome. Bells began to toll declaring the selection of the 267th Pope for the 1.4 billion faithful in the Roman Catholic Church. Romans and tourists began pouring into the square to be present when the announcement was made. I, too, waited, watching in my study, unable to work on my sermon. Was it curiosity or concern? At 7:12pm (local Rome time), Cardinal Mamberti appeared on the balcony to address the crowd. I held my breath as he declared: “Annuntio vobis gaudium- I announce to you a great joy! Habemus Papam- We have a Pope!” The crowd erupted with cheers, and then they leaned in because there was more to Mamberti’s announcement- the name of the new Pope. What came next surprised the world. An American- Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago- had been chosen. Against all conventional wisdom, the conclave of 133 Cardinals had chosen a Cardinal from the United States. Immediately, American flags began to wave in St. Peter’s Square, and the media declared: We have an American Pope! Or do we?
After the announcement, a frenzy of communities emerged to claim Pope Leo XIV as their own. At the head of the line- South Side Chicago- home of deep-dish pizza, avid White Sox fans, and childhood home of the new Pope. Here in Philadelphia, we stake our claim for the years that ‘Bob’ studied at Villanova, earning a degree in Mathematics and Philosophy, and enjoying cheesesteaks and Wawa. St. Louis claims their connection because the Pope did his seminary training there, finding his priestly community with the Augustinians. But perhaps the community that can lay the strongest claim on the heart of Pope Leo is Chiclayo, Peru, where he served as priest, then bishop, loving his people through the pandemic and poverty and violence.
Pope Francis often taught that “Shepherds (priests and bishops) should smell like their sheep.” In other words, Pope Francis looked for priests and bishops who would live with… laugh with… and cry with their people. He taught the leaders of the church to bear with their people, leaning into the challenges of life together, even carrying their sheep when life was too hard. Pope Francis judged Father Prevost as one who loved so well, he smelled like his sheep, thus he was raised to bishop. He was known as a street-priest, a priest of the people. The people of Peru so loved Fr. Prevost during his 20 years in Peru that he was given dual citizenship. For the last two years, Cardinal Prevost served at the Vatican overseeing the selection of bishops worldwide. By the time Cardinal Prevost arrived at the conclave, he had served on three continents, becoming fluent in four languages, and developing a heart for God’s people around the world. No surprise, Vatican insiders commented that Cardinal Prevost was the least American of the Americans.
Do we have an American Pope? As much as our oversized American ego would like to say a resounding YES, the truth is a definite NO. Pope Leo XIV is the spiritual leader for the 1.4 billion Catholics around the world. His international ministry to date has prepared him to see beyond national entanglements to consider the larger picture. He is also the Head of State for the tiniest nation in the world- Vatican City. Yet, the tiny country he leads has land holdings on six continents, in over a hundred countries. And the sheep in his pasture come from every continent in the world. Any national designation falls away in the light of his new position as the Vicar of Christ, the Shepherd for over a billion sheep around the world.
Yet, for those of us who are not Roman Catholic, the events in Rome may seem like just an interesting drama playing out in someone else’s sheep pen. What does the Pope have to do with us? Do his words or actions have any importance to us? To this very parochial perspective, St. Augustine offers a word of correction. In illo uno unum- In the One, we are one. This call to unity stands as the motto of the Augustinian order of priests, and a reminder that the church of Jesus Christ is called to a unity that defies denomination and national pride. In the church of Jesus Christ, Pope Leo has arguably the largest pulpit in the world. In just four days, Pope Leo XIV has demonstrated that he will use that pulpit to declare a moral imperative to the world, speaking for “the least of these” that Jesus calls “brothers.” (Matt. 25) The Pope’s choice of the name Leo binds him to the father of the Catholic Social Justice tradition that calls the church to follow Jesus in His love for the poor. In a world where the poor are forgotten in the struggle for power and wealth, the church needs to declare a clear, Biblical call to love God by loving our neighbor. I have made a heart commitment to pray for Pope Leo’s courage in declaring that Gospel message.
Today, I am encouraged by the first word shared by the pontiff as he greeted the crowds in St. Peter’s Square last Thursday. He began:
Peace be with you! Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the flock. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are. Peace be with you… This peace of the risen Christ, a disarming and humble and preserving peace. It comes from God, who loves all of us, without any limits or conditions
May we join the new Pope as ambassadors of Christ’s Easter peace in our hurting world.
With you on that mission field,
Anita
After the announcement, a frenzy of communities emerged to claim Pope Leo XIV as their own. At the head of the line- South Side Chicago- home of deep-dish pizza, avid White Sox fans, and childhood home of the new Pope. Here in Philadelphia, we stake our claim for the years that ‘Bob’ studied at Villanova, earning a degree in Mathematics and Philosophy, and enjoying cheesesteaks and Wawa. St. Louis claims their connection because the Pope did his seminary training there, finding his priestly community with the Augustinians. But perhaps the community that can lay the strongest claim on the heart of Pope Leo is Chiclayo, Peru, where he served as priest, then bishop, loving his people through the pandemic and poverty and violence.
Pope Francis often taught that “Shepherds (priests and bishops) should smell like their sheep.” In other words, Pope Francis looked for priests and bishops who would live with… laugh with… and cry with their people. He taught the leaders of the church to bear with their people, leaning into the challenges of life together, even carrying their sheep when life was too hard. Pope Francis judged Father Prevost as one who loved so well, he smelled like his sheep, thus he was raised to bishop. He was known as a street-priest, a priest of the people. The people of Peru so loved Fr. Prevost during his 20 years in Peru that he was given dual citizenship. For the last two years, Cardinal Prevost served at the Vatican overseeing the selection of bishops worldwide. By the time Cardinal Prevost arrived at the conclave, he had served on three continents, becoming fluent in four languages, and developing a heart for God’s people around the world. No surprise, Vatican insiders commented that Cardinal Prevost was the least American of the Americans.
Do we have an American Pope? As much as our oversized American ego would like to say a resounding YES, the truth is a definite NO. Pope Leo XIV is the spiritual leader for the 1.4 billion Catholics around the world. His international ministry to date has prepared him to see beyond national entanglements to consider the larger picture. He is also the Head of State for the tiniest nation in the world- Vatican City. Yet, the tiny country he leads has land holdings on six continents, in over a hundred countries. And the sheep in his pasture come from every continent in the world. Any national designation falls away in the light of his new position as the Vicar of Christ, the Shepherd for over a billion sheep around the world.
Yet, for those of us who are not Roman Catholic, the events in Rome may seem like just an interesting drama playing out in someone else’s sheep pen. What does the Pope have to do with us? Do his words or actions have any importance to us? To this very parochial perspective, St. Augustine offers a word of correction. In illo uno unum- In the One, we are one. This call to unity stands as the motto of the Augustinian order of priests, and a reminder that the church of Jesus Christ is called to a unity that defies denomination and national pride. In the church of Jesus Christ, Pope Leo has arguably the largest pulpit in the world. In just four days, Pope Leo XIV has demonstrated that he will use that pulpit to declare a moral imperative to the world, speaking for “the least of these” that Jesus calls “brothers.” (Matt. 25) The Pope’s choice of the name Leo binds him to the father of the Catholic Social Justice tradition that calls the church to follow Jesus in His love for the poor. In a world where the poor are forgotten in the struggle for power and wealth, the church needs to declare a clear, Biblical call to love God by loving our neighbor. I have made a heart commitment to pray for Pope Leo’s courage in declaring that Gospel message.
Today, I am encouraged by the first word shared by the pontiff as he greeted the crowds in St. Peter’s Square last Thursday. He began:
Peace be with you! Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the flock. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are. Peace be with you… This peace of the risen Christ, a disarming and humble and preserving peace. It comes from God, who loves all of us, without any limits or conditions
May we join the new Pope as ambassadors of Christ’s Easter peace in our hurting world.
With you on that mission field,
Anita
Posted in From The Pastor
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