I think it’s a compelling quality of leadership—and style of leadership— that is exceedingly rare. Writing about Nelson Mandela yesterday, Thomas Friedman touched on some themes that I think have echoes in Pope Francis: Mandela had an extraordinary amount of “moral authority.” Why? And how did he get it? One way leaders generate moral authority is by being willing to challenge their own base at times — and not just the other side. It is easy to lead by telling... Read more
Monday afternoon, somebody sent me a message on Facebook that put the last 48 hours into perspective. This year, he wrote, the winner of the “What-are-you-giving-up-for-Lent?” prize goes to the pope. I don’t think anyone would disagree. As I’ve watched this story unfold for the last two days, and read commentaries and analysis, it becomes more clear to me that what the Holy Father is doing is not only historic, not only courageous. It is also profoundly humble. And it... Read more
Father Lucien Lindsey gives his blessing to his wife, Jeanne. (Photo: Michael J. Johnson, editor Southern Cross) Details from the Savannah Morning News: In a first for the Catholic Diocese of Savannah, Bishop Gregory J. Hartmayer ordained an Anglican priest to the Catholic priesthood Wednesday. The Rev. Lucien Lindsey was ordained a Catholic priest at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah and incardinated in the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. The Personal Ordinariate of... Read more
Not sure how I missed this, but it’s a great story. It moved just before Thanksgiving: The Passage, a charity based in London, has come up with an ad campaign that proves how far a simple idea can go. Last year, the organization decided to have its volunteers stand in for the homeless at London’s Victoria station. Incredibly, donations went up by 25 percent in a three-hour timeframe, according to CLIO Healthcare, proving that visual bias dictates who we give to and who... Read more
For those who track these sorts of things, some interesting numbers, as reported in the Washington Post: U.S. Catholics are happier with their church and their pope than they’ve been with either in at least a decade, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll that also finds Pope Francis at least as popular with Catholics today as Pope John Paul II was even at his peak in such surveys. Among Catholics, 92 percent have a favorable view of Francis and 95... Read more
Since it is Advent, and since this is a time for penitence and penance, and since John the Baptist just called us last Sunday to “Repent!,” I thought it worthwhile to consider—and reconsider— how a lot of us spend our time here on the digital continent. Over the weekend, Pope Francis called on the faithful to use the Internet as a source of hope. Every click of the mouse, every arrow hovering over a link, can lead us either closer... Read more
The Vatican’s Facebook page notes: Pope Francis’ medallion portrait has just been added yesterday to the series of mosaic medallions depicting all the Popes throughout history, situated around the transept and nave of the Roman Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls. Read more about the basilica’s history here. CNS notes: St. Paul’s is today the only one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas entrusted to the care of a religious order. Benedictine monks have resided there since the time of Pope... Read more
From the beautifully-written cover story, by Nancy Gibbs: Rarely has a new player on the world stage captured so much attention so quickly—young and old, faithful and cynical—as has Pope Francis. In his nine months in office, he has placed himself at the very center of the central conversations of our time: about wealth and poverty, fairness and justice, transparency, modernity, globalization, the role of women, the nature of marriage, the temptations of power. At a time when the limits of leadership... Read more
A Jewish friend posted this on Facebook, and I think the author—who is Jewish—has a good point. Details: While recently driving through one of those long rural stretches that blur the lines between Midwest and South, I saw a large billboard that said in cheery letters: “Happy Holidays!” But the billboard featured an angry red cross-out, replacing the inclusive message with the strident proclamation: “ONLY MERRY CHRISTMAS HERE!” Let’s be clear: It wasn’t graffiti; it was part of the design.... Read more
For the first time, a pope from the Americas has sent a message to the Americas. Details: Pope Francis has sent a Message to the Americas to mark the Dec. 12th Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is venerated as Patroness of the American continent. The Holy Father delivered the message during the course of his weekly General Audience on Wednesday, the eve of the feast. Below, please find the official English translation of the full text of the... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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