The pope of the times
When news of Pope Francis’ passing came, it took some time to sit with what that meant, for me and the world at large. My identity as a Catholic has been multiphasic: born and raised to be dutiful to religious obligations, questioned the disconnect between Jesus’ original teachings of love and the very human failings of Church members, joined a Catholic organization in college and became very active as I discovered liberation theology which was a way to align my social justice leanings with my faith, became disillusioned with the rise of social conservatism, and finally estranged with the establishment, though still attached to the spiritual belief.
Throughout this tumultuous journey, Pope Francis was a beacon of hope. In him, I saw Catholicism the way it was instilled in me. All loving, all mercy. I saw him focus on inclusion and building bridges, rather than on exclusion and building walls. He was the closest to the embodiment of Christian living given the tremendous power he wielded. He committed to a simple life, eschewing the imperialistic trappings of the Church. It was reported that he died with less than $100 in personal assets. He lived his principles consistently—no hypocrisy, as far as I can tell. He didn’t advocate for reform for its own sake; he advocated reform because it was aligned with God’s teachings. Because God told us to love the poor, he advocated for them. He said his piece on political issues because of his wish to end people’s suffering. Whichever issue it was, he discerned where God would be and did what God would do. As a very imperfect Catholic, I appreciated his constancy when it comes to welcoming all with open arms. In last week’s column, I talked about unconditional positive regard (see “Unconditional positive regard,” 4/24/25). Among the public figures, he is the one who demonstrated this the best.
As the conclave nears and a new pope is set to emerge, I find myself wanting to do something I haven’t done in a long time: I wanted to pray. As disinterested as I had become toward my own faith, I now realize with urgency how important the symbolism of the papacy is, not just to Catholics but to the world. I can’t dismiss it as mere religious politics or as an archaic ritual from an even more archaic institution. With Pope Francis gone, who on the world stage can stand up to dictators and warmongers? Who is going to stand for goodness and peace? What global figure can resist the pressures of politics and the negotiating (or compromising) tendencies of world leaders? I find myself praying for a pope who would heed the call of the times.
The absence left by Pope Francis is keenly felt by a world ravaged by wars of all kinds: invasions and genocide, trade wars, and social media warfare. A strong global icon of peace has yet to emerge. Instead, what we have is an abundance of authoritarians and dictators. There is an air of despondency, both domestic and global. The world economy is bracing for a trade war initiated by the United States. There are radical shifts in political alignment that threaten world peace. What kind of pope is needed for this situation?
There is an element in Catholic teaching that invokes us to discern the “signs of the times.” Our teachings must neither be isolated nor disconnected from people’s lived reality but instead, we should engage and see God’s presence and actions in today’s world. If Jesus were living among us, where would He be? What would He be doing?
I will argue that we are living in a time of unbridled intolerance. In the United States, this has reached a cultural peak. Diversity, equity, and inclusion have become unwelcome words. In fact, Trump’s government has authorized a growing list of banned words including social justice and mental health. Both here and abroad, we have regressed on inclusivity and minority rights issues, especially when it comes to gender and sexuality. Vigilante violence is increasingly normalized in places where laws and justice systems do not protect their own people. Competing territorial claims and threats to sovereignty have promoted mistrust of foreigners and migrants.
What can Catholicism—and its leaders—provide the world given the signs of the times? In this regard, Pope Francis was such a good example. He called the Holy Family Church in Gaza every day since the war started 18 months ago. He remained steadfast in his call to build bridges, not walls. We need a spiritual leader that would stand their ground against the trend toward authoritarianism and intolerance. We need a pope who calls for an end to suffering and mistreatment of the poor.
We do not get to choose the next pope. It is not a democracy. There is no campaigning (despite some Filipinos still doing so). It is up to the cardinals to discern who is best to lead us through this chaotic world. And so, our only recourse is to pray. Pray that the cardinals recognize the signs of the times and realize the Church’s role in the world’s future.
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