Franciscan Spirit

We are each unique, yet we have so much in common. We all come at things differently, yet we find common ground in sharing our experiences and profiting from each other.

As I reflected on the explosive events of January 6, I couldn’t help but recall from Pope Francis’ newest encyclical the title of Chapter 5: “A Better Kind of Politics.”

In January, we watched a rioting mob invade the US Capitol. In the days that followed many questions confronted us. What must we do to overcome such dangerous polarization?

The man who longed to be a knight, a man of war, dies a man of peace, at peace with God, with himself, and with all of creation.

Although Pope Francis’ Jesuit roots are solid, in many ways his words and actions have made him the most Franciscan of popes.

What I thought was a brief walk with this beloved French saint turned into a lifelong journey of love and admiration.