Oh say can you see... Pope Francis!

With the arrival of the Holy Father on our shores today, I thought it might be good idea to share some observations and suggestions. For about two and a half years now, I've found myself routinely on the scale between bewilderment and utter disappointment with so many people's conception of who Pope Francis really is at heart. All you have to do sometimes is look at a Facebook news feed: Pope Francis the radical dogma rejecter (or even dogma "hater" according to Jane Fonda)... Pope Francis the Marxist extremist... Pope Francis the superstitious, devil-obsessed moralist. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad.

So, since a blog isn't really the place for a long and drawn out argument (at least that's what I think!), here are a few things to keep in mind while the Pope is visiting our nation:

Some examples of what Pope Francis is NOT

Pope Francis is not a Republican or a Democrat. He is not merely the leader of an NGO. He is not an advocate of an earthly utopia. He is not a Marxist radical or liberation theologian. He is not a harsh moralist who has no compassion for those who are leading lives that are incompatible with Christ's commands. He does not "hate" dogma. He is not in favor of a social justice that is stripped of a deep and primary commitment to the Gospel. He is not a radical environmentalist. He is not in favor of changing Church teachings on the nature and requirements for the priesthood. He is not lukewarm on things like abortion, euthanasia, government infringement on religious liberty, or the redefinition of marriage. His many statements on these topics are absolutely in accord with his predecessors, especially Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

Some examples of what Pope Francis IS

To put it quite simply, Pope Francis is the pope. He is the Vicar of Christ and the supreme pastor of the Universal Church. He is the successor of St. Peter, chief of the apostles. He a follower of Jesus Christ, a witness to the world that Christ is risen and calls all people to himself. He is the advocate of the poor, especially the unborn and the infirm. He is the defender of God's creation, of which we are all responsible before God as stewards and cultivators. He is the champion of the moral life, human life according to the blueprint of the Architect, and he stands in opposition to the idea that freedom means doing whatever we feel like doing.

The harder we try to understand Pope Francis apart from his actual vocation and mission, the more we will be left confused or even upset. Listen to what he actually says. Read what he actual writes and do so in context. It's worth the effort! May God bless and protect our beloved Holy Father during his pilgrimage to our land.