This past week I’ve been at home recovering from surgery. So, I spent the days watching the news of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States. I offer a few reflections.
I’m not one of those Pentecostals who view the “church of Rome” as the great harlot; or the Pope as the anti-Christ. Anyone who confesses “Jesus is Lord” is my colleague in ministry and compatriot in the Faith. Through the years I have found it interesting that no one demands the world’s attention like the Pope. The world follows his travels and listens carefully to his words. Like it or not, the Pope really is the primary spokesperson of the Christian faith to the world.
The media seeks to make comparisons between Francis, Benedict, and John Paul. One suggested that Francis is the pastor, Benedict is the theologian, and John Paul was the philosopher. It is true that each man had particular gifts, but all popes are pastoral theologians. It’s the nature of the office. Pentecostalism would be well served if we favored world class pastoral theologians over the sensationalist eschatological false-prophets or shameless charlatans we seem to admire.
Even though the Pope is the “head of state” of the Vatican, the Pope’s words must always be understood in context as a faithful Catholic. The Pope is not Democrat or Republican, nor is he a Marxist or Capitalist. The Pope is a Christian, a Catholic, who speaks with the moral authority of the Gospel and seeks a common social justice. He reminds us that the gospel transcends all politics and finds a home among all cultures. The fact that he made both left and right uncomfortable suggests that he spoke truth to power.
I saw Rick Warren among the crowd at the first Papal Mass. I am sure that he was not alone, that is, many Protestant leaders attended the various papal events. It caused me to wonder, “As we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017, will we be able to have a serious dialogue about the cause of division and seek lasting unity of the Faith; or will we simply be reminded of old prejudices and celebrate divisions within the body of Christ?”
I appreciated the Pope’s emphasis on religious liberty. With Christians in the Middle East suffering genocide I would have appreciated a bolder statement. I would have appreciated a similar remark during his Cuban visit. With the President suggesting that Christians in the USA must change their views of homosexual marriage to accommodate the interest of the state, I wish the Pope would have spoken with more clarity. But, we aren’t privy to what was said behind closed doors.
As the Pope addressed the US Congress, I couldn’t help but wonder, “What if Jesus of Nazareth had been invited to address the Roman Senate.” Maybe Jesus would have said, “Render to Caesar that which belongs to Caesar, and to God that which belongs to God” (Matthew 22:21). Or, “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Or, “Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, invite the stranger” (Matthew 25:35ff).
Finally, I suspect that the multitudes that flocked to see Pope Francis are very much like the multitudes that flocked to see Jesus. Most are there for the moment of celebrity. But when the call to authentic discipleship is heard, the multitudes disappear quickly. However, those who seek to hear and obey the words of Christ have been challenged.
All in all, well done.
