The Visit of Pope Francis - What it Means

I am anticipating the end of the visit of Pope Francis to the United States because at the time I wrote this he had just completed his visit to the maximum security prison and his next event will be the procession / motorcade / parade back to the circle where he will celebrate Mass, the final event on his whirlwind tour. 

I have to say that the man impresses me greatly.  He is a genuinely good human being who emulates the teachings of Christ.  How does he compare with John Paul II?  He doesn't compare at all to JP2.  But I mean this in a good way.  He is a genuine person.  His exterior mirrors his interior.  I think that he is much more practical than John Paul II was.  I think that he is a good politician, wise in the ways to use the world's leaders to accomplish the most good.  He has the common touch.  He is the Vicar of Christ on earth but he remembers at the same time that he is a man that must be completely open to the call of Christ in his life.  He is a man that will tolerate no cover-ups, no hankie-pankie with the Church's funds and demands complete and total honesty for all those that work with him.  On the other side of the coin he is a man that will make every attempt to extend mercy to others.

It is funny how the religious lunatics out there are claiming that this pope is the Antichrist.  They interpret the events of today in light of their erroneous exegesis of the Book of Revelation.  If Francis is the Antichrist, well, he certainly not acting as one.  He is humble and preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ and tells us how to make the Gospel work in our life.  Last night he had the audience in the palm of his hand.  It was not because of the great oratory, fare from it. As an orator he is fair but not earthshaking.  His words and the way he set them before us were the words of a humble man stating simply what he knew to be true.  

The Catholic Church has come through some hard times.  A small minority of our clergy sometimes aided by their bishops caused the scandal of child abuse to tarnish the Church. The sun is starting to set on these events and the perpetrators are all receiving justice.  The Church has placed safeguards into place and has instituted a zero tolerance policy.  Francis is being used by God to breathe new life into the Church.  He is setting an example that we are to follow.  The example he is setting is not new.  He is living his life and following Christ by carrying his cross daily. 

What Francis has called us to do is to respect life, respect the family, and to take care of the young, for they are the future and to take care of the old for they are the memory who will pass on the family traditions including the teachings of the Church. 

We are called to a life that will not be easy.  The Church is a rock in the shoe of the world, a sore that will not heal because we point out the way of God, they way we are to live.  Today that is very dangerous because those in power, the Obama's of the world have no desire to see religion regain the control it had over the nation after world war 2.  It is easier, but unfulfilling to live the life of a pagan. The happiness thus attained is of a transient nature.  To live the life of a Christian is to live a life where you expend yourself to the betterment of others.  This is the true road to happiness.  I have never engaged in a ministry that once completed where I have not felt that I received more than I gave. 

I believe in one, holy, Catholic Church with Francis the First as the Vicar of Christ.