A Mission of Peace

“I thank you for the work that you will do in helping me spread my mission of peace”, the Holy Father told the Press Corps, lifting off from Rome on his nine-day trip to Cuba and the United States...

“I thank you for the work that you will do in helping me spread my mission of peace”, the Holy Father told the Press Corps, lifting off from Rome on his nine-day trip to Cuba and the United States. Fr. Lombardi, the gracious and humble Jesuit spokesperson for the pontiff, reiterated these words to journalists on the Pope’s first night in Washington, DC, noting that Pope Francis’ two major speeches – to Congress and to the United Nations–would be most crucial to his message of peace. Of the many incredible impressions in these first days of following Francis around, a few are “stand outs”:

First, Pope Francis has an incredible gift for relationship. Fr. Lombardi called it “Francis’ personal charism”. Watching him on the White House lawn, at the Canonization Mass of Junipero Serra, in his speech to the joint session of Congress (the hottest ticket in DC!), at St. Mary’s Kitchen at Catholic Charities, at Ground Zero with victims’ families, first responders and survivors; we’ve all witnessed it: the engaging smile, delaying the schedule to chat with school children, eating lunch with the poor, the wave to the children from the balcony, and tenderness to the suffering, the endless smiles and laughs (and selfies) with the kids in Harlem--the “Francis effect” is the real! This, his rapport with people, according to Lombardi, is his charism and his methodology for peace. When he meets a political leader, says Lombardi, he meets a person, not an agenda to be forwarded. In turn, those who meet Francis meet a person. This “encounter” –a word Pope Francis uses frequently in these days– between people is the plan, and when it happens, ‘it is possible to ask a man to write a letter because a relationship has been established’. Francis’ peace plan: relationships.

Second impression: Pope Francis is holding the US ‘up to a mirror’ of sorts--a good thing, especially when you are certain that the one “telling you like it is” loves you. From the White House Lawn to his Congressional speech, the visit with the guests at Catholic Charities, Francis has pointed to our nation’s great history of freedom, charity, welcome of immigrants, tolerance and inclusivity, and to our attempt to clean up our environmental act. He’s also noted areas needing serious attention. Again, his Congressional speech was telling:

  • The “temptation that must be especially guarded against” he said, is to “the simplistic reduction that sees only good and evil; or if you will, the righteous and sinners”. (In our present situation of deep polarization, both politically and religiously, this comment drew very few applause from the crowd);
  • That “it is important that the voice of faith continually be heard”;
  • That “we must reject that mindset of hostility towards our neighbors,” especially those from south (which drew great applause; well, at least from half of the assembly); and continuing along that vein at the Ground Zero Memorial: those we meet “always have a face, a concrete story, names”;
  • And he asked the tough question: “Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and societies?”


Third: Francis is a man of hope (which one would expect, yet, it is always a surprise to find.) Again, in the historic Congressional speech, quoting from Laudato Si, he noted that in America we “have the freedom needed to limit and direct technology,” and he encouraged the US to take advantage of that freedom to create a ‘healthier, more human, more social and integral society’. It’s like he was saying, “I’m counting on you guys!” A few hours later at St. Patrick’s parish on Capitol Hill, before eating lunch with the poor and homeless, he acknowledged that he too gets stuck in life, overwhelmed, and in those times his “go to” is St. Joseph, whose faith “makes us open to the quiet presence of God at every moment of our lives, in every person and in every situation ”. Finally, again to the Congress: “Our efforts must aim at restoring hope, in righting wrongs, maintaining commitments, and thus promoting the well-being of individuals and of people,” a statement which was followed by a comment which drew perhaps the greatest applause from the lawmakers: “I am confident that we can do this!”

President Obama said it well when he told Pope Francis upon his arrival, “You shake our conscience from slumber!” This man who has traveled 5 different counties in the Americas in just a few short months, whose papacy demonstrates so many “firsts” (first South American, first to speak to Congress, to tweet of an encyclical,…the list goes on) has "called us out" on what we do well and on what we can do better; to go beyond ourselves, our limited thinking and our agendas. Pope Francis’ mission of peace is taking place before our eyes, echoing the motto of our newest saint, Junipero Serra: siempre adelante!

We'll see how this great mission of peace continues in Philadelphia!