A Pope Like Jesus

“I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.” Pope Francis

I love this Pope. Love him. Because he loves God and loves people—the Christian’s prime directive. Because he serves people—the call of the Christian. Because he sacrifices his own privilege and comfort for the underprivileged and uncomfortable.

I want to talk to you today about a person. A person who just happens to be the Pope. I am not talking about the institution of the Catholic Church. In the same way, when I talk about the person of Jesus, I am not talking about the institution of the Church. We hope, some day, those institutions will look and act a bit more like their leaders.

Unlike other top religious leaders who live in lavish wealth with no part in the poverty and suffering of the world, Pope Francis shuns the opulent lifestyle enjoyed by preceding popes.

Unlike today’s politicians who clamber over each other to get be elected to a lucrative job “serving” as head of state, Pope Francis resisted the position of Pope and reluctantly agreed only when he saw that he was being called to serve—not to be served—in this role.

Unlike both religious leaders and politicians who steer clear of “the least of these,” Pope Francis touches the faces of the disfigured, washes the feet of the prisoner, and eats with the homeless that Jesus served and called us to serve. He conveys acceptance unlike any of his predecessors.

The Pope has not been completely open and affirming of LGBTQ people—and given his history, I can understand that he cannot bridge that step right now. But unlike a whole lot of Christians who are all too happy to tell others they are wrong, Pope Francis says, “Who am I to judge?” Given Jesus teachings, we would do well to have such humility.

“Pope Francis isn’t changing church teaching; he’s expressing it ways that are fresh and vigorous, surprising, using colloquial language, and emphasizing things which perhaps haven’t been heard before.” Austen Ivereigh, author of The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope.

The Pope is showing the world that focus on the rules does not lead to holiness. Or goodness. Or Christlikeness.

Humility does. Love does.