News

Editorial: A pope for the masses

By Scott Wagar

03/19/2013

“We have a new pope.”

When these words rang out across the world on Wednesday evening as Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio walked on to Vatican’s balcony as Pope Francis I and presented himself to those in the Vatican Square and the media, to me, I felt differently than the other times a pope made his first appearance to the masses.

For me, as a protestant, I have always felt like the pope is for those of the Catholic denomination, but as Pope Francis made his first appearance it felt like he was a Man of God for all denominations of the world.

Although I know he is the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis’ ways portray him as a missionary and friend to everyone upon this earth. You have to like an individual who is humble, spiritual and common in his personality traits.

As I read about Pope Francis this week he found a place in my heart. I like that he took the name Francis, the patron saint of the poor. What is so great about the name is that to Pope Francis it is more than just a name; it’s a way of life for him.

As the archbishop of Buenos Aires, he could have lived in a palace and drove in a limousine each day, but instead he made the decision to live in a small apartment and take the public transportation to work.

Once Bergoglio became pope, he took it upon himself to ask the masses to pray for him before blessing them. The next day he returned to his hotel and checked himself out and paid his own bill before going back to the Vatican.  

Pope Francis has also made the decision to wear plain black shoes, instead of the decorative red shoes Pope Benedict XVI dressed in during his time as the pope. Besides that, Pope Francis has made the decision to clothe himself in plain white robes and carry a wooden cross in his journeys as pope.

On Sunday, when he walked to a mass in Rome, he took it upon himself to stop and speak with the thousands of people who were waiting for a chance to meet him.

Pope Francis is a man of the people, a man of respect, and a true man of God.

Pope Francis might be the pope of the Roman Catholic Church, but he feels like he is a good samaritan for the masses of all different faiths in the world. In less than a week as pope, he has set a good example of what individuals should be like in the world. If you’re Catholic or not, I think it is important to follow Pope Francis’ ways and to learn from his kind, gracious modest heart.

I feel that Pope Francis has so much for us to learn on this earth. From how we should live our lives, treat other people to being a faithful servant to all individuals around us, Pope Francis can teach us many important lessons.

“We have a new Pope” and his name is Pope Francis I. He is a new light in the world which shines brightly with a good nature for us all.