St Francis Bergoglilo

WHEN AND NOT if Pope Francis is canonized as a saint, I hope that will be what he's called instead of the dreadful style of "St. Pope xxx whatever name and number."   Actually,  I hope they don't canonize him at all and The People of the Churches canonize him in the old-fashioned way, by popular acclamation.   "Pope" is an earthly title,  "Saint" is a higher title, the saint whose name Pope Francis chose had no such earthly title, unlike most recent Popes' choices.   And there has been no less popely Pope than Francis Bergoglio.   At least none who I'm aware of.   His refusal of the scarlet and gold at his first appearance of Pope in favor of the white cassock I mentioned here a few days ago was only the beginning of that, his choice to live in an apartment in an apartment building instead of the papal apartmet as well.   

Pope Francis joins John XXIII in the significance of their papacies in asserting the Gospel of Jesus above medieval traditions and feudalism.    I'd say that Francis was even far less attached to the medieval detritus attached to the papacy than Good Pope John was.  

I think Francis' encyclicals will become even more  continually cited classics of theology when much of the academic theology of the theologians, including that of his immediate predecessor, the lauded academic theologian Joseph Ratzinger is mostly of interest to academic theologians.   I think that is the case because Laudato Si, Fratelli tutti and Dilexit nos are about real life more than about theology.   Much as I find reading theology interesting,  when it becomes about theology instead of real life its importance sinks often quite rapidly. 

The world needs that his successor as Pope is good, though I wouldn't hold my breath on that,  it's unusual to have one great Pope followed by another.   Elector Cardinals seldom have the courage to do that, though one can hope.  Francis did disappoint my wishes such as opening up ordination to married People and Women, though modest in numbers and in power, his opening up of offices of actual power in the Vatican to some Women and others who were not ordained as priests was significant.   I say that even as I'm aware that no Pope is going to knowingly risk a major schism and knowing that the conservatives among the bishops and cardinals have proven to be among the most schismatic forces in the church - the most lunatic of current ones think Pius XII was too progressive - and I mean that literally.   They will know that millionaires and billionaires are a force even as medieval, baroque monarchs and emperors and even princes exercised power in the Church in the past.   We need a good if not great Pope now and perhaps the conclave will surprise the like of me and give us another one.   I certainly was't expecting a Francis a dozen years ago.   St. Francis Bergoglio,  help us.