As you probably know, we have a new Pope! Robert Prevost is now Pope Leo XIV. It’s been an edifying time, and I join many others in prayer for him, for each other and all Christians, and for the world. Here is the new pope pictured in Perú with boots on the ground:
I hope to write more in the coming days and weeks, but my first response is that the pope being a missionary from the US in an Andes country, following on Pope Francis, has edified me again in my own path and identity as a missionary, and I’ve felt it in these days. I jokingly tell people, “There’s a new pope, a man from the States who has been in mission in the Andes. And it’s not me - yet!” :)
In his opening greeting, Pope Leo talked about the peace of the resurrection of Christ following on the death of Pope Francis and his own election. His words frequently centered on journeying together, accompaniment and listening and dialogue - synodality - and building bridges. I think Barriers to Bridges will continue to resonate very much with the ministry of the current pope - maybe even more than Francis? Because there’s a special connection with someone from the US who has gone to live with poorer people of the Andean countries, an understanding of that fundamental movement, that just isn’t very common. It’s a fundamental movement of Christian discipleship.
Just before the pope was elected, I was explaining in some way with some people my own spirituality, that it’s like having feet realistically on the ground, and yet expanding outward beyond all horizons. Whatever big vision, whatever deeper and broader thoughts, ideas, plans, and actions, are all rooted in the very practical ground of the hard part of human life. You can see in the picture how his boots put his feet right in the middle of the reality of life of people, poor people. Yet out of that, he stands up toward a reality beyond all horizons, through cross and resurrection of Christ. This is a missionary spirituality, a Christian spirituality.
So, I’m glad to share in this time of missionary grace of the Holy Spirit. May Pope Leo continue living his vocation in this grace for us all. I hope you are well, and feel free to reach out in comments or private messages any time. I hope to post more soon.
-Jerome