Let's Meet the Pope

I don't typically wear my religion on my sleeve.  I think it's a personal thing. 

But...

I'm a Catholic. 

And it's Good Friday (the biggest day in Holy Week besides Easter). 

So I thought today's as good a day as any to learn about the new Pope.



Here's what I know:

• Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio is the first Pope from the Americas
• He is the first Pope named Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the poor
• He is the first Pope to pick a new name in more than a thousand years
• He is the first Jesuit Pope -- they are known as teachers, which explains why the all buildings at my college (Fairfield U -- go Stags!) were named after them (Loyola, Xavier, Gonzaga, Bellarmine, Canisius, Campion, and one very wealthy donor named Dolan)
• He is a humble man who takes public transportation and cooks his own meals
• He lived in a small apartment in Buenos Aires and is living in a modest Vatican guest house rather than the formal papal residence

Here's what I hope:

• He is able to re-engage the world's 1.2 billion Catholics and repair a religion that is in bad shape
• He will see the dire need to evolve and modernize the church's views
• He can restore some honor to the priesthood

Here's what I believe:

• Going to church on Sundays doesn't make you a good person, being a good person does
• God loves and accepts everybody.  Every. Body.
• Everything happens for a reason

Here's one last thing:
If you're ever stuck in an airport on a Friday during Lent, find a Wendy's.  Their fish sandwich is far tastier than McDonald's.  It is also crispy and filet-shaped, not a creepy perfect square like the Filet-O-Fish.  But hit up McDonald's for the fries. You know why.


Happy Easter Sunday, if you celebrate it.  And happy Easter Monday Candy Sale at CVS, if you don't!


tags: holidays