The Francis Effect
Like many people, I am fascinated by Pope Francis. I know that he most likely won't change church doctrine. However, I am drawn to his philosophy of encounter and living into the abundant joy of the gospel. Our belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of this joy. In the days that he was in Cuba and the United States of America I remember feeling proud to be a Catholic and proud of the pope. There have been few times in the past when I have felt this way and few times when I have felt like this about a pope. I know that Pope Francis and the church are far from perfect. I know that there are many sins that the church have committed against those it has been called to protect and love. In spite of this Pope Francis makes me want to experience that joy of the gospel that he so often speaks of. He experiences people as opportunities of encounter were we are called to not look at our differences, but the way that we are ...