Pope Francis continues to dominate the news with stories of his humility and his concern for the poor. In fact, even though most of the poparazzi have left Rome, his honeymoon with the media continues.
In a way, his arrival on the scene reminds me of Jesus’ triumphant arrival in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. According to Saint Luke, “people were spreading their cloaks on the road” as Jesus rode into town on a colt. Sadly, those same people stood by as He was nailed to a cross five days later.
Pope Francis continues his own ride into town. Undoubtedly, his crucifixion by the media will follow in the months and years to come.
Like Simon of Cyrene, I’d like to offer a little help with the giant cross Francis now carries. Here goes.
Dear Pope Francis,
Congratulations on your recent election. As you walk in the humble shoes of the fisherman, may I offer the following suggestions for your papacy.
1) Your message to help the poor is a wonderful mission statement for our Church. May I suggest that you take one day of the week to get out of the Vatican and visit the sick and marginalized about the city of Rome. Call it Fridays with Francis if you like. Surely you know that actions speak louder than words.
2) Please sell off large portions of the Vatican’s holdings for the benefit of the poor. Charity begins at home and your public renunciation of papal wealth would send a clear message to all. As an aside, I recently came in possession of two chalices from a retired priest. One was made of gold and was easy to pass along to a local parish. The other chalice is made of clay. It seems that Church law nowadays prohibits the use of any chalice that’s not made of gold or silver. How distant that law seems to be from the reality of the original cup used at the Last Supper. Somehow I feel like I’m guarding the Holy Grail like the last knight in an Indiana Jones movie.
3) Stop using a roller to paint at the Vatican. The example of Michelangelo suggests that to create a masterpiece, one must use an artist’s brush. Yet, many popes in the past have used the broad strokes of excommunication to cover up or expunge so many imperfections on the canvas of life thereby denying that misfits are part of the picture too.
4) Board up all the existing traditional confessionals in the Church. Not that I think the Sacrament of Reconciliation is outdated. Far from it. What is outdated is the poorly lit sin bin that reminds me of some type of hiding place complete with a secret sliding window. Far better to make the confession experience one of healing that should be associated with 100 watt light bulbs in open spaces like church altars or church halls.
5) Create a children’s liturgy for designated Sunday Masses. Keeping our grandchildren busy and quiet for the duration of the lengthy Palm Sunday Mass this past weekend was a daunting task. Thank goodness for the distraction of palm leaves that kept the children occupied for a good part of the service. The maxim ‘children should be seen and not heard’ might have worked one hundred years ago but it can only do a disservice to children today. Children bring an innate sense of God with them whenever they enter a church. Unfortunately, they usually leave with an inane sense of what goes on in His house.
6) Though papal apologies for the sex abuse scandal in the Church have been made and steps taken to ensure such dysfunctional behaviour never recurs, I suggest the Church take ownership of her transgressions by defrocking all the perpetrators of such abuse as well as demoting all bishops who knowingly gave offenders a GET OUT OF JAIL FREE card when they moved them pass GO on their way to new a St. Charles or St. James Place.
7) Finally, Pope Francis, tells us who your heroes are, how you like your pizza, and what's your favourite movie. Continue to be a real person for us so that we will be more open to your call when make your personal challenge to us to help the poor.
May God Bless you.
Mike 2.0
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