Pope

     There are some things I like about the selection of the new pope, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis.  I like that he is not Western, but from the Southern Hemisphere.  I like that he has a Jesuit mind and a Franciscan spirit, a heritage that blends intellect and humility.  (It is said that he declined the limo and took public transportation in Buenos Aires.)  Thus far, he seems to engender positive sentiment from those inside the Catholic church and those outside. 

      There are also things I don't like, primarily that Jesus Christ has been obscured in all the papal hubbub.  This fact has more to do with the papacy in general than with Pope Francis.  I have Catholic friends and readers of this blog, so I say this respectfully.  Coverage of the conclave and papal selection centered on the challenges facing the church - politics, priest abuse scandals, Vatican infighting, and the church's relevancy in the 21st century.  I suppose Peter himself could return and fill the papal office, and the world would obscure his message.

      Some Greeks asked the disciple Philip, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus" (John 12:21).  So do I.  There was much talk of men, and no talk of the Son of Man.   In his first papal address Francis began,  "First of all, I would like to say a prayer for our bishop emeritus, Benedict XVI."  He went on with no mention of Jesus Christ.  He gave "shout outs" to "the Church," "Rome," and "Madonna," but no Jesus.  Am I being too critical, that in Lent, I wish to see Jesus?