A year has yet to pass since Jorge Mario Bergoglio, newly elected Bishop of Rome (as he often refers to himself as) – and, therefore, pope – appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, arms limply at his side, looking all of a startled schoolboy about to answer for himself before the principal. To some, he looked dazed, perhaps intimidated by the massive weight of expectation from a world of eager witnesses before him, awaiting his first words.
He stood motionless and was he – staring? There seemed no other word for it. This is the posture of a leader? A few awkward seconds would soon melt into the casual warmth of old friends reconnecting: “fratelli e sorelle … buona sera!”
“Brothers and sisters, good evening” – or morning or afternoon – would become his simple signature greeting, setting the tone of that first address and so many conversations, homilies and exhortations to come.
A Shared Venture
Indeed “the journey of the Church of Rome” would be how Pope Francis would characterize the mission ahead: a shared venture – bishop and people, people and bishop. Before imparting his own blessing he would ask the people to pray for God’s blessing on their bishop. In praying for one another, on a journey of brotherhood in love and in trust, he would rest hope for a great sense of brotherhood in all the world.
With a simple, fraternal “hello” Urbi et Orbi – to the City (of Rome) and to the World – Pope Francis not only delivered the first salutation expected of a newly elected pope, he also shook the dust off the shoes of any “siege mentality” that might have accrued to the Church’s sandals in its long march through history, opening new avenues for it in the contemporary world.
At a recent Sunday noon address, he said that being a disciple of Jesus does not mean living in a besieged citadel. John the Baptist introduces Jesus as “the Lamb of God.” Hence a disciple of Jesus “must replace malice with innocence, force with love, pride with humility, and prestige with service.” For “[t]here is no other way of defeating evil and sin other than through love, which leads to giving one’s own life for others.”
Many persons who are not Christians or even of any religious faith – and young people most especially – are acutely aware of the mystery and effects of evil in the world. They may not share our narrative for its origins or how it is to be discerned and overcome, but they recognize and dread its scourge.
Developing the image of the Christ, assuming the posture of a lamb, the pope also said “[t]he great weight of evil is removed and taken away by a weak and fragile creature, a symbol of obedience, docility and defenseless love, to the point of self-sacrifice. The lamb does not dominate, but instead it is docile; it is peaceful, not aggressive; it does not show its claws or bare its teeth when faced with attackers, but instead suffers and submits. And this is how Jesus is: like a lamb.”
This model is a far cry from a Church that would “bludgeon” the world (another metaphor of Pope Francis) with the Gospel instead of living it with the joy and freedom of the sons and daughters of God.
Given his own example, this sounds more like a rousing pep talk from a coach right there with the team than a fatwa from an imperious monarch in a moated castle. With a decent dose of good humor as we move into the Super Bowl showdown, we can also face the challenges of Evangelization with good sportsmanship. Like good contestants, we respect the humanity of our competitors without losing confidence in the excellence of the message of victory over sin that we so yearn to share with them.