POPE FRANCIS -- CARPENTER, MISSIONARY

With uncommon tenderness, Peggy Noonan wrote today of Pope Francis’ shyness, humility and simplicity as the “antidote” for the “garish and brazen” disposition of most world leaders today. (The Wall Street Journal, “Go and Repair My House”) A Roman Catholic herself, Noonan wrote optimistically about the powerful fusion of the Pope’s “embrace of the church's doctrines and his characterological tenderness toward the poor.” This melding of a keen intellect and tender heart seems admirably expressed in the Pope’s choice of name, as Noonan reveals: 

The meaning of the name he chose should not be underestimated. Cardinal Bergoglio is a Jesuit and the Jesuits were founded by St. Ignatius Loyola, who said he wanted to be like St. Francis of Assisi.

One of the most famous moments in St. Francis's life is the day he was passing by the church of St. Damiano. It was old and near collapse. From St. Bonaventure's "Life of Francis of Assisi": "Inspired by the Spirit, he went inside to pray. Kneeling before an image of the Crucified, he was filled with great fervor and consolation. . . . While his tear-filled eyes were gazing at the Lord's cross, he heard with his bodily ears a voice coming from the cross, telling him three times: 'Francis, go and repair my house which, as you see, is falling into ruin.'" Francis was amazed "at the sound of this astonishing voice, since he was alone in the church." He set himself to obeying the command.

Go and repair my house, which is falling into ruin. Could the new pope's intentions be any clearer?

There is doubtlessly additional significance in the Pope's choice of name, inasmuch as the Jesuit Order's first missionary was St. Francis Xavier, 15 years younger than St. Ignatius and at one time his secretary. St. Francis Xavier traveled east to Goa and Japan, where it is said, as Papal Nuncio, he brought into the fold converts in numbers second only to St. Paul. Pope Francis, therefore, seems to be signaling his dual intent to repair and replenish the Church.

As I wrote in my February 28, 2013 post, the Roman Catholic Church has a lot of sordid history to answer for and a long road to travel in overcoming anachronistic doctrinal prejudices against women, homosexuals, marriage for clergy and birth control. And while the doctrinaire Jesuit Pontiff may remain unmovable on these issues, a sincere preoccupation for the plight of the poor, at a time of rampant global greed and inequality, represents a hopeful step in the Church’s journey toward repair and replenishment. What remains to be seen is the extent to which dogged adherence to doctrine will permit the repair and replenishment necessary for the Church's redemption.

Postscript: Ever since reading Noonan’s mendacious hatchet job on Hillary Clinton (“The Case Against Hillary Clinton”), I’ve considered her a hack, consigned to Dante’s sixth circle, reserved for arch-heretics standing by a fiery tomb shared with “the main heretic, watching the people he converted suffer for what he did.” With this redeeming piece, maybe she’s worked her way up to Limbo.