God has called Pope Francis home. To the onlooker, it feels as though the Holy Father’s passing was both expected and a surprise. His passing was expected since he has been in and out of the hospital as of late. Yet, his passing was also a surprise since we saw him yesterday greeting people in Vatican Square on Easter Sunday. Some could argue that it was fitting that Francis, an ironical Pope in his ministry and administration, was called home in an ironic manner.
What do I mean by an ironical Pope? It was ironic that St. John Paul II would elevate a Jesuit to be a Bishop and then a Cardinal. Many rumors swirl as to why John Paul II elevated him to such positions, but it is clear that he was seen as a leader in the Church.
It was ironic that a Jesuit Cardinal would be considered a “Papabile,” a slang term for a Cardinal that is “Pope-able” or a likely candidate to be Pope. Yet, there he stood on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica being introduced as Pope Francis.
Volumes could be written about the ironies of Pope Francis. His charitable and welcoming disposition toward LGBTQ+ individuals combined with his adherence to traditional moral teachings on homosexual acts seemed contradictory to some. His progressive positions on things like climate change combined with some of the strongest anti-abortion statements made by any Pope were seen as confusing. Pope Francis wasn’t a trained theologian, giving his writings a more practical and earthy feel that frustrated many in Church academia. He was perceived as soft when it came to global conflicts, responding to global cries for him to take strong stands against military aggression by calling for peace and reconciliation.
The ironic nature of Pope Francis’ reputation comes primarily from looking at him from the “outside-in.” I’ve often wondered how we would change our perception of the late pontiff if we could see him from the “inside-out.” Obviously, I can’t claim to have such clairvoyance into the life of a man I’ve only seen once passing me by in the Popemobile. Still, there are stories out there about Pope Francis that have little to do with global conflicts and hot button social issues that can shed some light into the “inner-Francis.”
My favorite of these stories leaked when one of the doctors from the Gemelli Hospital stated in a press conference that his daily greeting to Pope Francis of “Good morning Holy Father,” was given the response, “Good morning holy son.” I couldn’t help but think of those times when I’ve been in the hospital in a position of deep vulnerability. In those moments, the concerns of priestly ministry disappear and there were only three in the room trying to understand how to pursue healing: The doctor, the patient and God. Those humbling and stressful moments can quickly reveal the inner heart of a person. It makes me smile to think that the inner heart of Francis was playful, confident and joyful in the face of what I presume were serious conversations about life and death.
I could go one, but my “outside-in” view of Francis has always been of a Pope that has been profoundly misunderstood. I see in Francis the same commitment to Catholic Social Teaching I saw in St. John Paul II. Each had a stronger emphasis on different themes, yet the themes were the same. I do not see Francis’ writings on Care for Creation and Integral Ecology as some radical leftist agenda, but simply the continuation of Pope Benedict XVI’s writings on Human Ecology that earned him the nickname, “The Green Pope,” despite his “radical conservative” reputation from the “outside-in.” Yes, his lack of theological clarity did create some legitimate confusion at times. Still, I always saw a consistency in Francis’ approach that was refreshing: He wanted to be a “Pastor Pope,” not a “Theologian Pope.” The best summary of Pope Francis may have come from his own lips when he answered the question, “Who is Pope Francis,” by saying, “I am a sinner whom the Lord looked upon with mercy.”
What does this have to do with Sacred Space Astronomy? This may sound odd, but the more I write about the relationship between faith and science the more I’m getting annoyed. Don’t worry, I’m not throwing in the towel on writing these little reflections. The annoyance is because there is so much “outside-in” presumptions that are toxic, untrue and damaging. And, to be completely honest, I started out biting on a lot of those presumptions.
I was falling into the idolatry of making faith and science debates a kind of quasi-deity. Though my intentions were good, I was embracing narratives that made that relationship something it isn’t. In the wake of this idolatrous exercise are people, good people doing faith and doing science that aren’t concerned about the latest neo-atheist spin on the Bible or a scientific redaction of the Bible by some Christians. Instead, the wake of this unnecessary battle are good people who simply want to understand truth, ask good questions, find solid answers and then look for deeper truth. If only all people had that simple disposition of heart.
God has called Pope Francis home. Yes, I am saddened, but that sadness is also met with joy and gratitude because a good and faithful servant has received his eternal reward. Now we wait for the Holy Spirit to call forth a new Holy Father. My prayer is that we stay clear of the toxicity that an “outside-in” approach to the papacy can create. Instead, let us presume that a good man will be chosen to serve as the next Servant to the Servants of God and let us embrace that servant for who he is.
Are my feelings of sadness and joy at the death of Francis ironical? No. It’s the heart of a Christian. And it speaks to the joy of Easter and the Resurrection of Christ.
