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| Waiting for the Pope by reading the Pope |
Do you remember in elementary school when teachers would make you draw a picture of your hero? For most everyone, including myself, it was their parents. My artistic drawing included my world renowned stick figures with elaborate lettering saying who the poorly drawn figure was. I can remember this cheesy activity vividly, but the more I thought about it today, I remembered how important it is to have heroes, human heroes we can look up to and admire. In a culture where box office block-busters depict super heroes who make you question what a hero even is, it is comforting to be optimistic in the goodness of a hero.
Well, yesterday I met my hero. While Pope Francis became pope long after I was in grade school, it is obvious to most people even remotely close to me that I hold this man in high esteem. Was it the fact that I own a Pope Francis t-shirt that gave it away? Or perhaps how we share a name, my middle name being Francis? Shout out to Mom and Dad for that one. He is not only my hero because I am Catholic and he is the Pope, although both are nice additions. Pope Francis' pastoral and charismatic way is electrifying and contagious, inspiring millions of people, Christian and Non-Christians alike, to be moral participants in society. Francis' outspoken nature on the necessity to care for those on the margins of society, those whom are used as objects rather than cherished as human beings, demonstrates his true love for all people of all cultures and backgrounds. The ability of Francis to establish an ideal, such as his emphasis of mercy, and back that ideal up with actions, challenges me to do the same. But, enough about why I love the Pope. The list could go on.
Yesterday, every idea, every inkling I had about Francis was brought to reality. No longer was the Pope an idealistic figure in a far off world where every dream comes true and happily ever afters exist. This is an exaggeration, of course, but you get the point. He was a living, breathing person standing fifteen feet away from me. In a paradoxical way, it was important for me to see Francis as a human. To know that this very powerful man, is just that, a man, gives me hope. To know that it is possible in a secularized society to live a fruitful and meaningful life, as Francis has shown, is utterly inspiring.
We had some time to spare once we got to our seats at the audience. I passed the time by reading. On my plate: Amoris Laetitia, a new exhortation by Pope Francis on marriage and the family. Ironically enough, the passage read at the audience was from the Wedding at Cana. The audience was conducted in six languages: Italian, French, English, German, Spanish, Arabic, and Portuguese. Francis gave his address on the scripture in Italian, but my Spanish-speaking friend knew enough to help me get the gist. The Pope made a joke that a party would be a disappointment if only tea was served. He said wine was necessary for a party, a very Italian thing to say! He spoke with grace and fervor, at times avoiding his prepared script and speaking from the heart. It was evident that this man knew how to lead the people of this world to God.
We estimated the size of the audience to be about 15-20 thousand. 15-20 THOUSAND. And these events happen weekly. It is important to note that as an English-speaking American, I was in the minority. Italian and Spanish dominated. How beautiful to know that the Church is truly universal, open to all peoples of all backgrounds. Needless to say, I was proud to be Catholic yesterday.
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| The man himself |
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| I think he was preparing to kiss a baby (one of the Pope's many talents) |
Until next time,
Jacob
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Read more from Jacob at http://ablogaboutrome.blogspot.it/
For more on the U of A Rome Center: Summer Campus, check out http://studyabroad.uark.edu/romecampus
