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Pastor to People
Pope Francis died the day after Easter. The world stopped to mourn his passing and to give thanks for his remarkable life. For me, he was the closest thing we have ever had to a "Protestant Pope". I say that with love and affection. Many of us in the Protestant tradition appreciated so many things about this first pope from the Americas.
Let me highlight some of the things I so appreciated about Pope Francis. His writings on the environment were much needed, a strong voice from the church reminding us that we are stewards of this good creation, that our actions so often harm our "earthly home", as he called it. With the threat of global warming and droughts and severe weather, he was certainly right and we need to pay attention.
When asked about gays and lesbians, he answered famously, "Who am I to judge?" What a great answer and what a great spirit of mercy that showed! He followed that up by asking who is welcome in church, and answering "Everyone! Everyone! Everyone!" So yes and amen to seeing the value of diversity, equality and inclusion. And he also elevated the leadership role of women in the church. I think Jesus would have surely done some similar things. For Francis' courage to "open the doors of the church" to all people, thanks be to God.
And I especially appreciated Pope Francis' deep concern for immigrants the world over. Remember that his Italian family emigrated to Argentina. He knew what it was to be "a stranger in a strange land." He held up the rights and the dignity of immigrants despite political opposition. He reminded us again and again that the Kingdom of God knows no
borders, that Jesus himself had to flee oppression and became in effect an immigrant in Egypt. Francis lifted up the immigrant, the "sojourner in our midst." And so should we.
Finally, for his simplicity, his commitment to the poor and those forgotten. Francis so often spoke the Good News of God's amazing love, especially for the "least of these". What a witness! How grateful to God we should all be that such a man lived among us and guided all the faithful of every denomination to a deeper discipleship of Jesus Christ. Thanks be God!
Peace, Pastor Frank
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