Don't cry for me Argentina.....

Hi

Pope Watch 2013 is now over. The white smoke has risen. Pope Francis now fills the shoes of the Fisherman.  What was most interesting to me was the audible gasp that came from the crowd when his surname "Bergoglio" was announced. I must admit, I was running through my list going..."what in the..." Although mentioned quietly as a front runner in Conclave 2013, he really was not expected to take over the keys.  But as I said in the first blog about the Conclave, those who go in as Pope, come out Cardinal.  Even my horse in the derby, Cardinal O'Malley came away wearing a red hat.  It is highly rumored that Pope Francis came in second to Ratzinger at Conclave 2005.  He supposedly made a huge emotional plea to the Cardinals during the voting to not elect him. What is fascinating is that almost 2/3rds of the College of Cardinals changed between 2005 and the present. Yet, he was elected.  Holy Spirit? One would pray so.  Apparently, there was some major discussion because it took 5 ballots. He wasn't a shoe in.  Benedict took 4, JPII took 8.  So, somewhere in the middle.  Hopefully it wasn't a rushed job to get a man in the chair by Holy Week.  But, either way, Francis is now the Big Kahuna.

What is my take on Pope Frank? Well, I am withholding judgement, fully.  What a person does as a Cardinal and what one does as a Pope can be two different things.  So, what are some things we know:

• From Latin America, yet born of Italian Immigrants. Italians still win!
• Takes the name "Francis."  The Vatican released that it was a nod in honor of St. Francis of Assisi and not St. Francis Xavier.  That name means something.  People immediately jumped to his cry for unity and love for the poor, all marks of Francis.  However, the first thought in my head was the cry of Our Lord from the cross to Francis, "Rebuild My Church!" I am hoping that becomes Francis' motto. The Vatican needs a scrubbing.  The Church needs to have some cracks patched and become relevant to the world again. 
• He is the first Jesuit Pope.  All of my spiritual directors have been Jesuits.  I have a fondness for them, especially for St. Ignatius and St. Francis Xavier.
• On the other hand, as a Liturgist....Oy Vey. Pope Frank, from all that I have seen and read, isn't much of a Liturgist. His opening address was very plain.  No mozzetta. No stole, until he put it on to bless and then took it off.  He definitely seems like a man who is about people and reaching people, though.  But, the New Evangelization cannot happen without a fruitful and spiritual liturgy.  That worries me.  There is an old saying, "More confused than a Jesuit during Holy Week." You can also substitute "a Franciscan" just as easy to that statement.  Ugh.  Benedict was a true Liturgist. I hope Frank doesn't come across as too casual and blah.  Beauty attracts, buffoons make people vomit. Sloppiness doesn't transform people.
• He does seem very holy. In fact, you can't read an article without noticing that people think that of him.  I wondered what took him so long to get out on the balcony.  We find out that he requested to go into a chapel to pray alone before stepping out to see the world. I find that noble.  The fact that he bowed his head and asked for the Faithful to pray that the Lord would bless him is very noble and very humble.  
• He is social justice oriented.  He is a voice for the poor.  He made visits to AIDS hospitals where he kissed and washed patients feet.  He gave up a luxurious palace and driver to live in a small one bedroom apartment and take the public bus to work. He may make the Papacy more reachable.  He is much more like John Paul I than people realize.  Go search the thoughts of JPI.  We may find out what the Papacy of the "Smiling Pope" would have looked like if he got more than 30 days. 
• When he stepped out on the balcony, he looked like a deer in headlights.  He looked stunned, maybe overwhelmed. That's a given. To me, however, he looked tired.  Very tired.  He is 76.  The whole thing looked tired and sloppy.  I was very excited when the white smoke poured out of the chimney.  But, when he emerged, it all seemed to drain from me.  Is he merely a clean up Pope to bow out when he hits 85 as well? Who knows. At some point, the Cardinals need to realize they look like a "geriocracy" and keep choosing "geriatric rule." It's hard to evangelize the world when the Pope gets a good 4 years before he looks like the Crypt Keeper and drools all over himself.  Bad show. Every single person at my job said the same thing, "He is 76? Ugh." Come on, guys.  This is the youthful Bride of Christ, not the "Shady Pines" Nursing Home.  Are you afraid the young will mess it up or aren't as experienced? Please. If you all couldn't bring the Church to her knees, no one can! You have done a pretty good job of putting the Body of Christ in hospice.
• I think Papa Frankie is going to tick off both sides of the altar. The Traditionalists are already shaking in their boots. He is no fan of the "Extraordinary Form." Yet, he did give a plenary indulgence at his blessing and led the Faithful in the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Glory Be. The Left isn't going to like him fully either. He is very conservative on social issues like referring to gay adoption as "child abuse." However, I like people who tick off both sides.  That means, he is his own person. Remember the seagull that appeared on the chimney all day.  The seagull historically is a sign of honesty, personal freedom, and deliverance.  Pope Frank may be just that.
• Pope Francis gets huge props for me for his devotion to Our Lady. He mentioned her twice in his opening address. He ended by saying that "tomorrow I will go to see the Madonna." Nice! Even if he is a lack luster Pope, Mom will whip him into shape quickly.  

So, what's next? We shall see.  Inaugural Mass on the Solemnity of St. Joseph.  I am curious to see what that liturgy will look like as well as the rest of this Papacy.  Until then, back to business. It's Lent! You will now be returned to your regularly scheduled fasting.