Last Wednesday I had heard about white smoke over the Sistine Chapel and watched live on television the announcement of the new pope and I was astounded that a Jesuit was named pope. Jesuits are very rarely made bishops, cardinals, etc. for two reasons. One, its to keep them focused on their mission and not politicking for higher office and, second, so they are not seen as a threat to the powerful so they work on their projects. But, a pope can name a Jesuit a bishop if they choose. N.B. Popes can do whatever they want! However, what was most surprising is that John Paul II almost shut down the Jesuits 30 years ago due to their liberal ways and the church turned extremely conservative and doctrinaire these past decades. Thus, its amazing that these conservative cardinals would choose such a man from an organization so recently scandalous.
I don't know him nor do I know anyone who does. But, I've gotten into the whole thing and have been reading all the news stories about him. I am encouraged and hopeful. I had been thinking while this whole conclave was in the works that I just wished the church would quit talking about abortion, birth control, gay marriage, etc. They cannot win the argument with the public and the downside is that it distracts from the primary message. I bet I'm like a lot of Americans; when I hear a bishop start ranting about Obamacare and how the rights of Roman Catholics are being trampled because of its inclusion of birth control, I think, "You'd lobby to throw out the whole legislation and deny 50 million people health care over this issue when almost all Americans and a vast majority of American Catholics believe its just common sense to practice birth control?". To my point, my mother and father who were midwest, small town conservatives had made that conclusion about birth control by 1965 and had no qualms about its morality. In addition, I say to myself, "Why don't these bishops do anything about pedophilia? Why don't they speak out about this sin which is truly grievous? Why, are they complicit?". When you're going down that route about issues which are the derivative results of theological reasoning, to use an English expression, "You've lost the plot."
The plot should be the gospel. And, Francis has started his papacy focusing on that message and the poor. I hope it can continue and that his brother bishops will move on to important matters. Heal the sick, feed the poor, protect the weak, and preach the good news!
