The Vision and Mission of Pope Francis

In less than a month since his election as Pope of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has impressed the media with his humble way of doing things. His open kindness to the ordinary people around him gives us some clues about this leader. Based on studying a bit his background, here is in my opinion his vision:

First: Mission for the Needy of the world: Africa, Asia, Latin America…

Since he grew in the slums of Argentina, he experienced the suffering of the poor at the hands of dictators. Today, we expect he will help his fellow Christians reach out to those who are suffering and especially those governed by dictators. Suffering Christians in the Middle East are on his radar. The Vatican has diplomatic relations with almost all nations. We can reasonably expect him to intervene with powers of the world for their protection especially after the abduction of two bishops from North Syria which he said he was concerned about.

Second: Vatican II: Pope Francis wants to continue to implement the directives of Vatican II…

Collegiality – Bishops to participate in governing the Church – is a key teaching of Vatican II. The centralized Roman Curia will likely be reorganized especially after the leaks of mismanagement… Collegiality will help dialogue with the Eastern Orthodox Churches since it is a principle of government in the Eastern Christian synodal system.

Third: Ecumenism: Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II will visit Pope Francis in May to commemorate the visit of the late Pope Shenouda III to Pope Paul VI forty years ago and their Common Declaration on Christology…Here is an opportunity for help to Christians in Egypt through an alliance between the rich Catholic Church of the West and the poorer Eastern Churches of the Middle East. It is also an opportunity for Pope Tawadros II to reopen the dialogue of the Orthodox Church of Egypt with the Church of Rome. Other signs of hope for Christian unity include the fact that the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch attended the installation of Francis…Russian Orthodox Patriarch is also playing a key role…Is Christian unity possible? Let us pray for this intention.

I see Pope Francis a providential God-send initiative for 21^st century Christianity. An astute Jesuit experienced in the long struggle for pro-life movements, he will very likely support the U.S. Catholic Bishops against the excesses of the Liberal government of Barack Obama that had asked Catholic hospitals in the U.S. to perform abortion and offer artificial birth control treatment which both constitute an offence to freedom of religion and Catholic moral values. Pope Francis, head of the largest Christian Church in the globe, will also be able to morally and financially defend the defenceless nations in Africa, Asia and Latin America with Catholic missionaries particularly when fundamentalists are spreading violence, and the Western powers are continuing unabashedly to support them with military expertise. And lastly, Francis will rebalance the powers of excessive capitalism moving eastward through technology and globalization of business at the expense of the poor, the young adults without or with scarce jobs, and the lonely elderly in a selfish generation.

How can you as a Christian participate in the Pope’s mission?

Participate in charity for the needy (e.g. Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul, Pro-life to save babies, Catholic organizations for the homeless). Parents can educate their children with Christian moral values. Husbands and wives: Stay faithful to each other especially when the media promotes unethical cohabitation.   

May the Lord protect our Pope.