Pope Francis- A Glimmer Hope for Change in the Church- like Oscar Romero and John XX111

"As an unlikely choice for Pope, mostly due to his age and health, Francis reminds me of another unlikely advocate for the people – a man chosen to be Archbishop because of his passivity and his ill-health – Oscar Romero.  Romero surprised the people who placed him in office and stirred things up when he became a staunch advocate for the people that he served.  Romero’s “moment of conversion” revealed something spectacular that changed Latin America.  In his role as leader, he found his voice and became a defender for the poor and oppressed.  It is because of Romero that I am hopeful hat Francis will provide (or at least start the wheels in motion to provide) changes to the Catholic Church.

It should also be noted that another unlikely choice for Pope was Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the Archbishop of Milan, who was not even a Cardinal.  Roncalli became known as John XXIII:  a Pope who saw that the Church was in need of change and who took unprecedented action to convene the Second Vatican Council.  Again, this story fuels my optimism.

I, like most Catholics, was (pleasantly) surprised when I saw the new Pope appear.   In stark contrast to his two predecessors, Francis emerged in a simple white cassock, and his face that seemed to reflect humility and kindness.   Then another surprise came; before he extended the traditional Papal blessing on the crowd, he asked the people to bless him and bowed his head toward the people.  A glimmer of hope sparked..". 

Comment by Michele Stopera Freyhauf