It’s a catchy title that begs some caution. Pope Francis doesn’t have to be Franciscan because of his name. For that matter, neither does he need to be Ignatian because he’s a Jesuit. But the influence of both is real. Let’s try to understand something of the first since Pope Francis has just handed us an ideal way to reflect on this, his apostolic exhortation, Evangelii gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel).
The title is a great place to begin. Pope Francis’ exhortation is about more effectively proclaiming the Gospel through the New Evangelization (Evangelii means the Gospel). In his rule, St. Francis described his whole life simply as living the Gospel. It’s hard to know what difference that makes when all Christians are called to live the Gospel. For both men, this call involves a penetrating focus that does not become deterred by peripheral things. They both call for us to go for what’s critically at the center of Gospel living. Mistakes will be made, but go for what counts.
The second Latin word of the title translates as “joy.” There’s a famous passage in the hagiography about St. Francis called the “Perfect Joy.” For both men, joy is the sense of satisfaction that comes from doing what we’re suppose to do, being what we’re suppose to be; focusing on our core values. It’s not the same as simple happiness which too often is associated with enjoying simply physical or mental pleasures. Both men experience joy through integrity.
Pope Francis spends some space talking about love expressed through mercy as the most important Christian virtue. It’s part of his plea that the Church focus on the central and important things. St. Francis expresses the bond of this love and mercy through the metaphor for his life as a sister-brotherhood. This isn’t just about community. It’s stronger than that, sharing the drive that comes from blood relationships. Both men want to break down barriers between people and classes of people that truly make them one.
A final point of comparison is Franciscan humility. A recent book on Franciscan spirituality is entitled “The Humility of God.” Francis wanted to be humble because God is humble. Both men see humble service as breaking down the walls that prevent a vibrant Sister-brotherhood from taking hold. Pope Francis pleas for a humble church, including humble priests who like Christ wash the feet of others. But everyone is called to humble service.
Read Pope Francis’ Evangelii gaudium to see even more points of convergence between two men with name Francis.
