Pope Francis

You’ve heard the expression when someone wishes to draw attention to the obvious, “Is the Pope Catholic?”  

In the past I’ve sometimes wondered.  The message of Christianity seemed to get lost in doctrinaire pronouncements and a lack of humility in the Papacy.

Not Pope Francis.  He is a pope with whom atheists, Hindus, Muslims, and Southern Baptists can feel comfortable.  His support for action on global warming, his call to help the poor, his critique of unbridled capitalism, his plea that the refugees be helped–all are what this planet needs.

I do have my criticisms.  Some might considered trivial (Father Serra should not be a saint), but some are major (the failure to change the doctrine on contraception when overpopulation is one of the causes of both refugees and global warming).  

On the other hand, I believe the Catholic Church is like a very large oil tanker.  It takes a while to change course.  I hope Pope Francis has a long life.