Pope Francis

There are many things I love about Pope Francis.  His summons not to be a people of fear, his solidarity and connection with the marginalized--those on the "periphery" as he calls it.  His gentle acts that manifest the abundant mercies of God are an embodiment of magnanimity.

 

He has called for a "revolution of tenderness" (Evangelii Gaudium, 88).  

Perhaps, we might move from our normal vantage points (our "factory specifications") of fear and cowardice and resentment and pettiness and love-less-ness and embrace those who are different strange, foreign, alien to us.  God did precisely that to us in Christ Jesus.  Such was his magnanimity.

Pope Francis has now addressed the issue of the children of the "border," of the margins, of the periphery.  It would increase the space for love in our souls--make them more magnanimous--if we dared to listen.  Maybe we just might be Catholic in our embrace of human beings...