More Popishness

During the Reformation, the fathers of the protestant tradition came up with many ways to describe Roman Catholic doctrine and dogma.  Many of these, less than complimentary terms were aimed directly at the figurehead of the Roman Catholic Church, the Bishop of Rome, aka, The Pope.  The Holy See of Rome has had some unfortunate characters wear the big hat over the centuries, no doubt, but in the early stages of his term, Francis is really impressing me.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not converting any time soon, I like my wife a lot better than I like fancy vestments, I like preaching for more than 10 minutes, and I have way too many issues with authority to deal with a hierarchy like that.  But I am duly impressed by the latest successor to St. Peter.  He is taking up the cause of the poor and the common folk in a way that has been sorely missed in many Christian denominations.
What exactly is he doing? You ask.
He's doing what he is situated to do better than almost any other human being on the planet: he's talking, and when he talks he's kicking over idols, prejudices and assumptions.  If I say something as the Pastor of a Church, about 200 people will probably hear it, and that's an optimistic estimate.  When the Pope, as head of the Roman Catholic Church says something, millions of people hear it.  People who aren't Catholic or even Christian hear it.  It's fair to say that the whole world hears it.
And that is a great power and a great responsibility.
And this week I have heard and read about him saying some really wonderful things.  I heard him challenge his Church to start caring more about people that dogma, I heard him say that caring for one another is more important than calling out sin and pronouncing judgment.  I heard him attack the global economic system that worships money, not in vague scholastic terms but in real, emotional concern for the dignity of humanity.  In short, I heard the Pope say things that I've said and wanted to say myself, and in that, even though I am far from Catholic, I felt encouraged and uplifted.
If he can be a wise guide to a hardened and incorrigible Presbyterian, then he really is something.  If he can speak in a way that draws praise from his own flock and the flocks of others then he is doing what Jesus did.  If he can be honorable, rational and consistent in the eyes of atheists and agnostics then he is worthy of our attention.
The world has too many leaders who lack conviction, who are too ready to play politics and manipulate reality to suit their needs.  When I heard the Bishop of Rome say to the Church: "we have been too obsessed with homosexuality, abortion and birth control," I knew his words were dangerous, and brave, and that they call all of us who proclaim faith in Jesus of Nazareth to remember the one we call Savior.  They call us to remember that he didn't shy away from controversy, but he was controversial about the right things.  They call us to remember that he didn't attack poor, lonely, lost sinners, he attacked principalities and powers, what we might call nowadays dysfunctional systems.  Jesus attacked idolatry, greed and hypocrisy and he cast out demons, healed the sick and forgave the sinners.
How have we veered away from that basic framework?
It's a historical irony that now the Pope might be the voice of reformation for the church.  An office that once stood as the major impediment to a wave of holy change in the body of Christ, now may be the source of a voice that brings us all, Protestant and Catholic alike into a new accountability to the vision of our Lord.
I hope.  I'm listening.
Keep talking Francis.