Pope of the periphery

Pope Francis’ trip to Asia was a remarkable event by most measures.

Jan 30, 2015

Pope Francis’ trip to Asia was a remarkable event by most measures.

In war-traumatized Sri Lanka — where Catholics who feared that rival politicians would use the trip for political advantage had urged Francis not to come — he deftly maneuvered through competing agendas to deliver forceful messages about justice and reconciliation, embracing diversity, and continuing interreligious dialogue. Sri Lankans were buoyed by his presence and reanimated to continue their work of rebuilding their society.

In the Philippines, Francis the pastor shone through brightly in every appearance. Who could not be moved by his embrace of 12-year-old Glyzelle Palomar, the former street girl who asked him why God lets children suffer? His answer was his embrace, and all who watched the exchange felt it.

Equally moving was Francis’ insistence on visiting typhoon- devastated Tacloban, even as another tropical storm bore down on the area. He moved with the instincts of a pastor who wanted to be with his people. Once there, dressed in a translucent yellow raincoat over his Mass vestments, one could see desperation in his face as he explained slowly in English that he was setting aside his prepared text, would speak in Spanish and use a translator. He felt he needed to speak in his mother tongue to adequately express the depths of his heart. His message here, too, was an embrace, an embrace of the thousands who had lost loved ones and the millions who had lost homes: “I’m here to be with you.”

Francis, the pope of the periphery, embodied the message he preaches. He was the servant pastor working in the “field hospital,” his favoured description of church. Francis speaks and writes often, of creating a culture of encounter. “The walls which divide us can be broken down only if we are prepared to listen and learn from one another,” he said.

Source: NCR

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