Pope Leo XIV - Session 8
I would like to continue to be part of the Discussion Forum. During the last few months, I have been available to attend live zoom meetings. However, for the next few months, I will have the need to listen to the recorded sessions.
If I had been able to participate in the breakout rooms for session 8 there would have been a desire to share my thoughts on the vision of Pope Leo XIV during the first days of his papacy.
I will start on a lighthearted note. Each time Pope Leo addresses the College of Cardinals, he reminds them, and all of us who are part of the community, to be grateful to the Lord for His blessings and to be Jesus’ friends. He envisions as a community who professes that Christ, is the Son of the living God, we will go out and announce the Good News. During this moment in the Catholic Church, the only words appropriate to acknowledge the cardinals is “my brother cardinals”. I have the hope, that someday, Pope Mary Magdalene I will stand before the world, and greet her fellow sister and brother cardinals!
Pope Leo expresses himself in a flowing, poetic manner. He has an intrinsic, mystical grasp of the scriptures and of the holy people of God. He is a humble man and from his lips we hear that he does not put his confidence into the grandiose edifice of St. Peter’s Basilica or the Vatican State, that surrounds him. No, Pope Leo XIV sees the treasure of the church within the holiness of her members. The Marvelous Light dwells within the “Holy of Holies” of our hearts and we are to call others out of darkness by the type of lives we live.
Pope Leo’s missionary vision is striking! It is true, not a large percentage of us will be torn apart and consumed by lions, but every day something is going to tear at our lives. It is during these transforming moments that he asks us to place our egos aside. When we feel an injustice tearing at our flesh, we are called to make a commitment toward compassion and bear witness to our joyful faith in Christ, the Savior.
The following is the second question I would like to address briefly: What hopes do you have for the Church in your region?
I am very concerned with the administration of the finances in our Los Angeles Archdiocese and the Catholic Church throughout the world. I would hope there would be honesty and transparency, but I doubt it. We were recently asked to donate $12,000 over the next 5 years. It is very structured. My hope is that our Archdiocese would give us confidence that the millions being donated will be completely placed in the designated funds as promised. Also, I am concerned about how these large sums of money are being invested. Are the Church’s financial advisors making investments with a social concern? Do they align the donations with the values that Pope Leo XIV is preaching about? I understand the church needs to invest wisely so they gain a better financial footing in this world, but will these investments be a positive social or environmental change to the people of God whom we bring the joyful news!
Peace and Blessings.