Published just today is an article on Pope Francis in Forbes (here). It is an interesting read, especially coming from a business publication. The points of the article are
Francis is . . .
- making it easier for ambitious people to value simplicity.
- changing how we distinguish between “important people” and “unimportant” ones.
- reintroducing a healthy tension between the concept of virtue and the practice of capitalism.
- drawing a dividing line between high status and good character.
These are not the sole property of Pope Francis. Others throughout history have lived out the above as well. Most recently people like Teresa of Kolkata and Maggie Gobran of Cairo come to mind. From a Catholic point of view, these are things taught in the Mass, which is our highest form of worship and which embodies the theology of the Catholic church.
Of course, the points mentioned above are found beyond the Catholic church and even Christianity. Perhaps, however, a Christian leader’s exemplification of them will stir the church toward its mission and to be a reflection of Christ and His kingdom here on earth.
the archives near Emmaus 
I have a question for you if you are still monitoring this.
I want to like Pope Francis, I really do. I like a lot about him, I like what he said about it not being his place to judge homosexuals. But he goes in that direction often enough that I think it is becoming a legitimate question if he believes homosexuality is sin. I also wonder if he shares Benedict’s commitment to theological orthodoxy. While I like all the nice things he says, I wonder about the relative absence of the other side of the equation. Shouldn’t he also be condemning the sin, while not the sinner. Shouldn’t he also be emphasizing what I thought was Catholic teaching – that there is no salvation outside the church? I fear he talks more about helping the poor in this life and too little about the next.
As a Catholic, does this stuff bother you? I read your posts and have always respected Catholicism, I wonder if you have any insight.
Reblogged this on Sunday School on Steroids-The Seminary Experience.