Argentina's Cardinal Bergoglio Becomes Pope Francis

On March 13, after Argentina's Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was selected as the Roman Catholic Church's new pope, he took the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century son of a merchant who spurned a life of luxury to live with and for the poor. The name, coupled with the simplicity of lifestyle the new pope had preferred even while a cardinal, and his longtime support for social justice issues and ministry to the poor, has led many observers to conclude that his time in the papacy will bring renewed emphasis within the Catholic Church to these matters. The new pope said he chose "Francis" after a cardinal colleague advised him to "Remember the poor."
Others have noticed that Pope Francis places a heavy emphasis on Jesus Christ and his forgiveness. In his first homily, he noted that "if we do not profess Jesus Christ, things go wrong. We may become a charitable NGO, but not the Church, the Bride of the Lord." One of the Lutheran members of the TWW editorial team commented that "at times, Bergoglio sounds more Lutheran than Roman Catholic -- at least, he reflects that portion of doctrine that both have embraced, if not always as fully as might be desired."
Pope Francis himself appears to be a humble recipient of God's grace. Even the traditional Fisherman's Ring the new pontiff received during the ceremony, representing the papal role in spreading the gospel, reflected his desire for simplicity. It was second-hand and not solid gold like those of his predecessors.
The new pope also represents a significant break with the past in other ways. He is the first pope to come from the Jesuit order, the first to come from the Americas and the first to come from the southern hemisphere -- which is noteworthy since the southern hemisphere is the only part of the world where Christianity is now growing. Francis is also the first non-European pontiff since Pope Gregory III (731 to 741).
Author and Vatican reporter John Allen believes that the choice of the name Francis sent a clear message to the church about the new pope's intention to let "the church of the spirit, a humble and simple community of equals with a special love for the least of this world ... shine through."
Beyond caring for the poor and creation itself, challenges within the Roman Catholic Church are also likely to occupy much of Pope Francis' time and energy. An article on NBC News identified seven areas ripe for attention, including dealing with corruption inside the Vatican, leading the church out of the clergy sex abuse scandal, improving relations with other faiths, winning the West back to the church, opening the ministry more fully to women and addressing the debate about celibacy for priests, dealing with demands for liberalization on social issues, and seeking to end persecution of Christians worldwide.
More on this story can be found at these links:
Thousands Pack St. Peter's Square for Pope Francis' Inauguration. CNN
Pope Francis in Plea for Poor as Inauguration Mass Held. BBC
Homily for Inaugural Mass of Petrine Ministry (Full Text). News, Vatican Today
Seven Challenges Facing Francis as He Starts His New Job. NBC News
Rich Man, Poor Man. New Yorker
The Big Questions
1. To what degree does the name we bear as followers of Jesus -- Christian -- set the tone for how you live? If possible, give some examples. How does that name influence what cultural and social issues you champion or stand against?
2. Does following Jesus mean taking him as the primary model for your character, morality and spirituality? Why or why not?
3. When have you used the "What would Jesus do?" question (often stated as "WWJD?") to help you decide how to handle a particularly difficult situation? In what ways did it help? Did it confuse matters in any way? What new clarity did it bring?
4. While most Protestants don't grant official sainthood status to any individuals today, we consider some people to be good Christian role models. Who do you know that has made Christianity attractive to you? What specifically did they do? In what ways does that person serve as a role model for you?
5. What is the purpose of the church? In what ways might the selection of a new pope benefit not just the Roman Catholic Church, but the whole church worldwide? Do you think people of faith beyond Christianity equate Christianity with Catholicism? Does this make the selection of a leader of the Catholic Church more significant in terms of the way Christianity is viewed in the larger world? What does this say about the way you judge or prejudge non-Christian faiths? What or who do you make to stand for a whole faith?
Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope
Here are some Bible verses to guide your discussion:
Matthew 16:18
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. (For context, read 16:13-20.)
Revelation 2:17
To everyone who conquers ... I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it. (For context, read 2:12-17.)
Great significance is being given to the name chosen by Pope Francis to represent his papacy. In the scriptures one sees the importance of a name change, from the name Peter given by Jesus to Simon to the new name promised in Revelation to all who stand up to persecution.
Questions: Do you have a nickname, or have you been given a name, that represents something essential about you? When your title changes, is that in effect a name change, and what does it mean for your relationships with others and your view of yourself? What title or name is given to people called to leadership within your congregation or denomination?
Luke 4:18-19
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. (For context, read 4:16-21.)
Early in his ministry, Jesus visited his hometown synagogue, where, when invited to read the Scripture, he read the words above from Isaiah 61:1-2. Then, after sitting down, he commented, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (v. 21), indicating to the congregation that he was taking those words from Isaiah as a description of the work he had come to do.
Questions: To what degree should the words of Scripture Jesus chose to characterize his ministry also characterize our efforts as Christians? Why? What Scripture would you choose if you wished to typify your own ministry? If there is a Scripture verse on display on a plaque, stained glass window or inscription in your church, what does it say about your congregation's mission and ministries?
John 2:14-16
In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, "Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!" (For context, read 2:13-22.)
The standard Christian belief about Jesus is that two complete natures -- the divine and the human -- dwelt within him. In other words, Jesus was and is both God and man. With that in mind, Bible commentators sometimes point to this incident in the temple as an example of the human side of Jesus -- as if to say, "See, even Jesus blew his top once in awhile!" Using the incident that way, however, is misleading, for it implies that even Jesus wasn't Christ-like all the time -- as if "Christ-like" were an adjective with some meaning that was not tied to the Jesus we meet in the New Testament.
Looking at the kindness, humility and voluntary suffering of Jesus, we are apt to think that "Christ-like" mainly means being a doormat for others. Yet that is not what Jesus did. This temple incident, while perhaps more extreme than some other actions of Jesus, is not out of character for him. In fact, it is exactly within his mission of calling people to live holy lives following the holy God. Given that, Jesus could not let the money changers doing business in the temple go unchallenged.
Questions: What characteristics easily come to mind as examples of Jesus being "Christ-like"? Is anything Jesus did not "Christ-like"? Explain your answer. When have you been consciously aware of Jesus being an example for you?
1 Peter 2:20-21, 23
If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. ... When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. (For context, read 2:11-25.)
Although our format here allows us to quote only a few verses, it's worth taking the time to read the entire context (2:11-25) for these verses. That's because the whole section is concerned with how Christians should live in society so that others may "see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge" (v. 12). In the whole passage, Peter has developed specific advice for Christians based on the behavior of Jesus himself.
Thus, in the quoted portion above, Peter points out that Jesus has left us "an example, so that [we] should follow in his steps."
In effect, Peter is saying that Christians must not divide life into compartments where each section has different -- and sometimes incompatible -- principles of behavior. What guides us in our relations with fellow Christians ought also to come into play in our relations with strangers, store clerks, politicians, homeless persons and celebrities. In all situations, we should be guided by the example of Jesus.
Questions: When have you been aware of compartmentalizing your life? What discord did that cause you? How can we de-compartmentalize our lives?
Titus 2:9-10 (NIV)
Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. (For context, read 2:1-15.)
In Titus 2, Paul gives advice to Christians in various life stages (older men, older women, younger men, younger women) as well as those Christians who are slaves, as in the two verses quoted above.
Slavery in the Roman Empire was an economic, not a racial, institution, and it was not possible for Paul to end it. But he tells those in forced servitude to behave like Christians nonetheless, "so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive" (italics added).
That seems like good advice for all Christians, regardless of their social standing.
Question: What do you consciously do to made Christianity attractive to others?
For Further Discussion
1. The cardinals followed an established procedure to select the new pope, and several of them referred to the process as a way of seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This process has been in place, with few changes, since A.D. 1059. What methods are used in your denomination for selecting leaders? In your congregation? In what ways do those methods assume the guidance of the Holy Spirit? In what ways do other factors that you might consider less spiritual influence the outcome? Is there a "white smoke" moment in those processes?
2. What do you think it means that the greatest growth areas of Christianity (not just Catholicism) are now in the southern hemisphere? Why might Christians in those parts of the world want to send missionaries to the north?
3. In today's world, it seems as if advertisements and self-help articles emphasize putting ourselves first and improving ourselves even to the detriment of others. Are we to put others first, or to put others as equals with ourselves? Is it possible to put the welfare of others first? Is this an authentic way to live?
Responding to the News
This is a good time to consider who our role models in the faith are, and what we can learn from them.
Closing Prayer
O God, bless the ministry of Pope Francis that your will might be done through him. Help us to do your will as well. In Jesus' name. Amen.