"Don't Be Afraid!"
For good or for naught, I care not, but Pope Francis will be one for the history books. He is, of course, the first Jesuit pope and the first Latin American pope. He is the first pope since Pius X to live outside of the papal apartments. Pope Francis encouraged advocacy for social justice, equality, and progressivism within the Church.
But beyond what will be written down for all of history, why will Pope Francis be remembered?
Pope Francis will be remembered for his compassion, his kindness, his emphasis on reconciliation. Pope Francis will be remembered for fostering an environment of mercy and of unconditional love in the Church. Pope Francis will be remembered for encouraging ministries to the poor and less fortunate. Pope Francis will be remembered for charging the Church with the care of those in need. Pope Francis will be remembered for laying hands on the sick and dying, showing no fear for his own health in the face of those in need of compassion, love, and tenderness. Pope Francis will be remembered for opening the gates of the Vatican and taking in those lost and in need of shelter.
Pope Francis will not only be remembered for his advocacy of social justice but of actual justice. Pope Francis reformed the financial structure of the Vatican and issues apologies for centuries of abuse from church officials. Pope Francis rooted out corruption in the Church and reformed it.
Pope Francis will be remembered by this convert in particular for his challenging use of Scripture to ignite the flames of the Spirit in the hearts and minds and souls of those not yet in communion with the Holy Church. "Who am I to judge?" We do not judge each other. We cannot judge each other. Our walks are our own. Pope Francis's walk was his own. No matter how we think or feel about this pope, the man cannot be judged by our standards but by Our Lord's and in His Eyes alone.
Pope Francis will go down in history. This much is true. He has earned it.