It takes a sinner to understand this Pope

Daniel Schwindt offers a beautiful biographical reflection on why this pope speaks to him so deeply.

People ask me in bafflement what Francis is up to. I am baffled at their bafflement. Everything you need to know about this man is summed up in the words “He has preached good news to the poor.” And “poor” means a lot more than “strapped for cash”.

I will never understand the hatred and hostility this guy receives. Never. The only words that make sense of it to me are these:

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me. (Jn 15:18–22).