The
media and major blogs are alive with all kinds of information about our new
pontiff, Pope Francis I. So I will leave
it to all of them to report on all that is known about our new Pope and how he
has humbly lead his flock in Argentina...and what we may expect going forward.
Personally,
I tend to be a person who focuses not so much what one says, but what one
does. So, there was something that immediately caught my eye today when
the Pope was first introduced. As he stepped out onto the loggia balcony of the
Basilica overlooking St. Peter's Square all he was wearing was the papal white
cassock and a simple cross...and no other ornamentation.
Did
you notice how this contrasted with the robes worn by Benedict XVI when he was
first introduced in 2005?
Only
when Francis bestowed the blessing upon the City and the World did he place the
red ornate stole over his shoulders and at the conclusion of the prayer quickly
removed it. All this only after he asked
all those gathered to pray for him in a moment of silence.
Nothing
against our beloved retired Pope, but by Francis' first actions in public and even his choice of papal
name, could lead one to hope that we have a pontiff that is focused on the
Gospel message...and indeed, that may be the good news some one billion
Catholics have been hoping for.
1 comment:
Delighted that you zoomed in on this "outward sign." One of the first things I thought was, "return those fiddleback chausables to storage and get on with works of justice and mercy."
Actually, the very first thing I thought after, "I feel hopeful" was "can we please get rid of the 'new' Roman Missal?"
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