The Black-and-White Pope
Francis is clearly a very good and holy man, someone dedicated to a radical living out of the Christian message, whose expression radiates joy. In his first speech he spoke of cleaving to the cross, and of the dangers of the devil. He is a man who has been intimately involved with spiritual warfare. While his speaking style is plain, it is effective. He seems to be more of a storyteller than a formal, programmatic preacher. While at the meeting with journalists, he seemed to break from his prepared text and regaled the assembly with the story of how he picked his papal name. He joked that he could have chosen Adrian VII (after the short-lived reforming Dutchman Adrian VI), or that he could have gone with Clement XV, to get back at the Pope who had suppressed the Jesuits. This provoked warm mirth throughout the audience hall. Instead, after hearing the admonition of his fellow Latin American, Cardinal Hummes, “not to forget the poor,” Papa Bergoglio decided upon the name of Francis, one of the greatest and most beloved saints of the Church.
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The last two pontificates have been a powerful gift to the Church, picking up the pieces left by what Benedict XVI called the “Council of the Media,” or the erroneous misinterpretations of Vatican II which have caused so much damage. If I may make a simplification, John Paul II was the pope of “Truth,” who (with Ratzinger) recalled the Church to its profession of orthodoxy, through catechesis and Catechism, through careful development and strong assertion of doctrine. Benedict followed this by his emphasis on Beauty. This was not an effete effort in sartorial splendor, as so many seem to dismiss it. Rather it was a call to the Church to recognize the Beauty of Truth, embedded in human culture formed by the Word of God. This was realized concretely in Benedict’s promotion of elevating music, both sacred and secular, of his liberation of the Extraordinary Form, of his retention of the graceful and marvelous elements of classical Anglican worship in the Ordinariate. Even more was Benedict’s submission to his role as the successor of Peter, a man exuding humility yet conscious of his position as head of Christ’s Church on earth, which he carried out with decorum and dignity.
Now we hope Francis will complete the triad. For while it is clear that John Paul and Benedict were very good men, they had different historical missions. Francis can call us back to the Good, and to the imitation of Him who is the end and purpose of all desires. It is true that too often those whose primary tasks involve Truth and Beauty can neglect the “Good.” This can and must go beyond simply personal holiness and virtue. It must extend to having the vision and courage to carry that goodness throughout the world, to care for the sick, the suffering, and the marginalized. Francis seems exceedingly well equipped for that task, and I am certain the Cardinals identified that as a most desirable characteristic.
What must not be lost however is that unity of the Transcendentals that is needed for an effective witness to Christ who is Truth, and Beauty, and Goodness together.
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