At Guideposts we’re excited about Pope Francis’s upcoming trip to America and the Big Apple. We’ll be running some great pieces on Francis leading up to the papal visit. You may have seen a few already.
I know who else would be excited. My mom. She would have loved Francis. And not just because she liked firsts (Francis is the first pope from Latin America, the first Jesuit pope…Mom’s favorite cousin was a Jesuit, Father Jim) but because she embraced many of the same spiritual ideals as Francis—a love for the poor and the sick, respect for the earth that God made, a yearning for justice to prevail over injustice, peace above war, love above hate and an unwavering devotion to Christ. And aren’t the things that Francis’s papacy is passionate about the very things Jesus called his disciples to?
I’ve written about the often entertaining and always edifying battles between my mom and dad—by now you can guess Dad was the unapologetic conservative and Mom was the equally unabashed liberal—about doctrine, Biblical teaching, social policy, changing cultural mores. Those discussions could get heated, especially around the dinner table on Sunday, depending on what our pastor preached on.
I admired them both for how honestly they struggled with the difficult issues of the day—clerical celibacy, abortion, divorce, birth control, homosexuality, a world that was changing all around them. Yes, voices were raised and sometimes dishes rattled in the sink with exasperation. But they always respected each other, and they always fought with love not hate. They were passionate but fair. And frankly they agreed on most things.
I can’t help but note that a few of the comments posted to our recent pieces in anticipation of the pope’s visit to America are rather harsh considering the audience I have come to know and love. Not everyone is going to agree with every pope or everything a particular pope says. But can’t we all agree to treat each other with respect?
Dr. and Mrs. Peale were incredibly proud of the fact that the little magazine they founded 70 years ago was a Judeo-Christian-based interfaith publication. From the very beginning we had editors and writers and readers who were Catholic, Jewish and Protestant. (Our audience was predominantly Protestant but not exclusively.) And that was a big deal back then.
Dr. Peale was doing something new and daring: letting people of different faiths—and even no faith—tell their stories of hope and inspiration. It was in that spirit of tolerance and inclusion that the magazine grew to be one of the most popular in the country.
I have an enduring respect for Guideposts readers. I have talked with so many of you over the years and am convinced you are the most decent people this country has. You are a wide and diverse group, and I believe that you know how to disagree respectfully and civilly. Or as my mother used to warn me, “Keep a civil tongue in your head!” I still have to remind myself of that from time to time and remember not to let my passion get the better of me.
I may be reserving my judgment about this pope for a few more years. Frankly, I have questions about the institution of the papacy itself. But I am cautious about those views. There is already too much division in our country. One thing I am sure about is I’m excited Pope Francis is visiting my adopted city and our country. How about you? I know my mom would be. Dad too, in his own cautious way.
