A MAN HAS CONQUERED THE WORLD WITH HIS SIMPLICITY

Change begins from a single person. In just 55 days as the Pope of the Catholic Church Pope Francis has conquered the world with his simplicity. His name, words of simplicity and deeds with humbleness has taken the Church to a new direction with a new enthusiasm 

The words that echoed on 13th March 2013 at St. Peters’s Square, “Before the Bishop blesses the people, I ask that you would pray to the Lord to bless me – the prayer of the people for their Bishop. Let us say this prayer – your prayer for me – in silence” were a new experience for the faithful. A spiritual leader is asking prayers from his flocks!

St. Francis of Assisi, an icon of simplicity, charity and love is one of the most popular Saints of Italy. By choosing the name of St. Francis of Assisi for himself as Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio has given a new message to the world that the foundation of the Church is on charity also. Followed the election of Pope Francis, a picture that appeared in many of the social networks, presenting Bl. Pope John Paul II as the symbol of hope, Pope Benedict XVI of faith and Pope Francis of charity, is an example for the acceptance of the faithful to his message.

His initial moves where closely watched by the world. But he brought a big surprise to everyone continuing his simple nature. His ways of living is a big surprise for the world. His initial acts; keeping black shoes, using iron-plated pectoral cross, emphasizing always as ‘Bishop of Rome – not as Pope’, pay his own pre-conclave hotel bill in person, called his newspaper carriers in Buenos Aires to cancel his subscriptions, deciding to celebrate the Maundy Thursday services with the juvenile inmates, washing the feet of youngsters, even non Catholics and female, not moving into the Papal Palace, celebrating Holy mass with Vatican groundskeepers, domestic staff with their family and low-level workers, avoiding the bulletproof-glass-enclosed Pope mobile, mixing with people very often etc. Today these have become some of the examples for the world to look into life more positively at this particular time of economic crisis.

When the actions and words are matching, people will believe in the person as an authentic person. His paternal appeal to the faithful; “If we do not confess to Christ what would we be?”, “God is not tired of forgiving” are taken up by the faithful. This is resulted in a considerable growth in faithful, who did confession in the last Holy week and following days. His enthusiastic approach, ‘you have to live in faith’, has been hitting in the minds of youngsters. In this short span of time, his words and deeds are changing the approach of the faithful towards the Church. A change has been occurring through his simplicity.