The new leader of the Roman Catholic Church is a Jesuit priest. That means he is more into serving out in the world than being cloistered and apart from it, more into humility than pomp, more into frugality than lavishness. This could be good.
This comes at a time when similar movements in these directions would be good for all Christians everywhere, but especially in America, where a Christian subculture has obscured rather than advanced the gospel.
The reasons for cloistering may be different, but the result has been the same. Fear and the need for safety have fostered a circle-the-wagons posture toward the world among American Christians for at least three decades now. This has been fueled in large part by the products and services of a Christian subculture which has offered “safe” versions of education, entertainment and politics that have in effect separated Christians from the world rather than sending us into it as Christ did. For centuries monks and priests have separated themselves from public life in search of a holier, more sanctified existence. Christians have done the same thing for a safer one.
We would all do well to pay attention to this man, because we need a new sensitivity towards the world. We need an inner sanctity expressing itself in compassion rather than an outer one championed by a Christian T-shirt. We need a quiet, coming alongside witness, bolstered by the Holy Spirit, versus a pompous, power-seeking presence in the world bolstered by numbers. Christians have been in bed with political pomp and power for long enough; it’s time to get down on our hands and knees and wash some feet.
It’s time to find out what the Lord wants us to do out in the world and do it. It may be that this pope — this new Francis — can help us figure that out.
John Fischer The Catch 
Yes, I do believe that the Cardinals chose wisely this time! Although, I do wish that they could choose 50 year olds. But then, that would allow a pope enough time to actually make changes in the Church. Heaven forbid!
Pope John Paul II ws 58 when he assumed the leadership of the Catholic Church. I think one of the great changes made by Pope Benedict XVI was that he “retired.” I can’t imagine the immensity of the job and you make a good point – it is very difficult for an older man to take on such responsibility. John makes a great point, too. Hopefully we will all learn much from this good man. There are many problems in the Church today and I hope and pray that Pope Francis will shine the light of Christ into the dark corners and clean up and straighten out as needed. We should all pray for him, whether Catholic or not.
Amen, John! We have separated ourselves as Christians way too long! Causing more & more damage!!
….and I suppose we should all follow the Vatican’s official doctrines also…. like recognizing Mary as a “Co-Redeemer”, and “Co-Mediator” between us and God.,,,, !! ….and the “Eucharist” is the ”
“ACTUAL” body of Christ, and the wine is the “ACTUAL” blood of Christ (not symbols of Him) made thus by the miraculous special words spoken over them by only a roman priest with the “power” This is why the “consecrated” host is placed in an elaborate gold monstrance and is exposed to receive the veneration of the “faithful” with much bowing, praying to it, and worshiping it as God Himself! ….the host! Not to mention all the horrible sexual acts of the multitudes of priests upon the multitudes of innocent children over the decades…. and the millions of dollars of Sunday morning offering money used to pay off the families to help keep everything under wraps…and the sheltering of these priests with elaborate shell-game sequestering around the world… ! It just goes on and on…..the false teachings and hypocrisy! It’s like the “elephant” in the room! Don’t you see this false, compromising “church” as being instrumental in the soon to appear Anti-Christ’s world wide deception? Shouldn’t true Christian leaders and teachers be warning their flock of the deception spoken of in our Bible that is to come upon us in the Last Days?!….. to not be misplacing their faith and confidence in membership in institutions, and men in high hats and long robes, who demand to be referred to as “father” … and “HOLY FATHER”! good grief! Shouldn’t we be more concerned with pleasing God Almighty, than worrying about losing congregants…. and their easy finances to keep our nests well-feathered ?! May God help us to discern what is going down all around us, and how late it is. Beware of mixing the World’s so-called “social justice”, with the salvation of God that is only in Christ Jesus’ Death and Resurrection, by Faith …….. one of them is the counterfeit mercy. I repeat… beware. ……Ralph Gaily
Could you be more offensive? And you missed the point.
Our faith was preserved and handed down to us because of the Catholic Church, it would do you well to show a little respect.
My Catholic son reads the Catch, I hope he doesn’t see your comments.
sailaway58, My intent was not to be offensive, but unfortunately it seems to go with the territory when entering into discussion about the only Way to God. I cannot respect educated leadership that sends people down a path that ends in a cliff. My faith was not preserved by them, but by what God Himself has preserved with miraculous means. I pray your son does read this, in the right spirit, and thinks about the difference between the “teachings, and traditions of men”, as compared to what God has preserved for us in His Holy Book, the Bible. I too was a catholic…. raised in the catholic school system….taught by priests and nuns for twelve years… religious training every school day of those twelve years, and every Sunday, and Holy Day of Obligation…. believed all that was taught to me, but was empty inside…. until age 23 when, for the first time, I opened the New Testament and read it…. objectively…. hungry for truth. I heard the Good News within…. salvation in Christ Jesus only, and promise of total forgiveness and Eternal Life, by FAITH in Him…..FAITH! …. got down on my face, alone in a little room, convicted of my sinful life, wept like a boy, and embraced Jesus Christ and all He stands for. At 65 yrs. of age now, this was over 40 years ago…. I’ve raised my family as a police officer, and a firefighter and am now retired, and a grandpa, and I read the stories and words of Jesus to my grandchildren and whoever else will give me their ear for a few moments….. BECAUSE….BECAUSE….. I want all to taste of the Life and joy and contentedness I have found in Christ Jesus. He changed my life…. totally unexpected by me…. caught me by surprise…. He is alive… He is real… His love is the most powerful force I know… He is the TRUTH! ….,Ralph Gaily
You’re an angry man, Ralph. I hope you will continue to read The Catch so you will pick up on the wisdom & love given out by John daily. My church certainly has serious problems but they won’t be solved by judgments & mean-spirited statements. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
i’ll 2nd your comments Brain…
Brian, My anger is at educated, leaders who should know better than to lead people down false roads. Paul the apostle was angry at such people who came into the Galatian church with falsehood, causing much confusion among them….. He got a little ticked off with Peter too, when he displayed some hypocrisy in Paul’s presence at a gathering with some Jewish believers in Acts. And Jesus Himself wasn’t very pleased with the religious leaders of His day when He expressed His displeasure in the Temple with a whip made of cords to clear the room out. Anger rightly directed, and for a decent reason (as opposed to “no reason”), sometimes is needed to get sleeping people to wake up. I’ve been reading John’s “Catch” for a long time now, and have enjoyed much of it… but sometimes adults differ in their views, and the difference sometimes manifests itself in what might appear, on the surface, as hatred, or anger, or mean-spirited statements, or judgements, or whatever. You are in the midst of some “serious problems” to be sure…. brought on by people who should know better… problems that won’t be solved by me commenting on them. But Brian, I would suggest just simply reading,,,, studying…. your Bible with an honest hunger to know the Truth about God, and what He expects from a sinful man (such as you and I), and then, when you “get it” …or I should say, “get Him”…, simply walk away, find a solid, simple fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ, and settle into real Life as a Christian man who believes, by simple, child-like faith, that Christ’s death on the Cross, and His Resurrection, was ENOUGH to save you from damnation….. that He paid the full price required by the Father to atone for the sins of the world…. including yours and mine. If the death of God’s only begotten Son was not ENOUGH to pay the price, what else can possibly be added!! ,……Ralph Gaily
Thx Pastor John for today’s Catch, i liked it and got a lot out of it too. Would like to add a very big Amen to this ‘cauz i know how well it applies to me: “Christians have been in bed with political pomp and power for long enough; it’s time to get down on our hands and knees and wash some feet.”
Absolutely excellent! Glory to God!
I know this response is tardy and I respect the honest exchanges above.
Regardless of our feelings or personal biases concerning Catholicism, Protestantism, or other Christian “allegiances”, I’m thinking this Franciscan Benediction should be embraced by ALL who unashamedly proclaim Jesus Christ as their redeeming Saviour:
“May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace. May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain in to joy. And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.”
Shalom and blessings to you this Easter…