The ‘Francis Effect’

One year ago today, Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis, and the Catholic Church has been swept along by his wave of popularity.
And, what a year it has been!

He has made a hit with Catholics, Jews, Protestants, atheists, and gays and lesbians, throughout the world.
He gathered more than three million people to an open-air Mass last summer at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janiero; the crowds attending his audiences in St. Peter’s Square have tripled, and, last month … he made the cover of ‘Rolling Stone.’
Along with ‘Dr. Hook,’ of course!
He lives in a small apartment, wears simple robes at liturgies, and often declines the papal limo, in order to run towards and greet crowds of visitors — especially children and those with disabilities — (which must really frustrate his security folks!).
He has been known to pick up the phone and offer prayers to people in difficulty, and invite local ’street people’ over for breakfast.
What should we take away from the ‘Francis Effect?’
All of his ‘rock star’ fame has already rejuvenated the Church around the world, but critics point out that he still has to address a string of bedrock problems.
Some of the issues that have already been worked on include irregularities within the Vatican Bank, and the Pope has fired the Director of the bank and installed a monitoring board.
Many liberal Catholics want to see changes in such areas as: allowing priests to marry, introducing women to the Priesthood, and more attention to the abuse of children by priests.
A message in the local ‘Archdiocesan Bulletin’ summed it up well:
“Pope Francis has brought our Church to the fore and people of all faiths are taking notice. Let us continue to pray for him, respond to his call and give thanks for Pope Francis and his example of faith.”
During a recent retreat by hundreds of priests throughout Rome, Pope Francis took part in all the regular sessions and even stood in line for his cup of coffee with all the others!
To learn more about Paul Francis, here are a few sources you might want to visit:
--Check out: his Facebook page by clicking here.
-- He is also on Twitter, here.
— Visit Catholic Culture.org to read the text of an interview given by His Holiness to the Italian daily La Republica.
-- Here is the text of an interview with Pope Francis, published by America Magazine.