Every once in a while the whole planet seems to take a deep breath and dwell on some event. Sometimes we focus on a weather catastrophe or a terrorist attack. Other times our attention is directed to the Olympics or some other sporting milestone. But last week The Catholic Church lost its earthly leader when Pope Francis entered the pearly gates. He was a warm and charismatic man who maintained a simple attitude to his flock. He never lavished his position and he offered insight into key issues facing his Church and the world. Such a man earned the respect of everyone he touched–not just the Catholic faithful. His personality and down-to-earth demeanor are rare in any leader–even for popes. Other popes may have prioritized their management role and included the commoner mentality. But–for Pope Francis the individual and the struggles of the world’s less fortunate–his gaze was always on “the least of my brethren”. Wouldn’t the world be so much better off if EVERY LEADER FOLLOWED THE EXAMPLE OF POPE FRANCIS? Imagine a world where Putin, Trump, Orban, Kim Jong Un, Madura and others considered how their actions would impact “the least of their brethren“? The prospect of no war, no hate crimes, no greed, no selfish motives and no “me first” attitudes is a utopia we can only hope for. Today’s world–in fact–is moving away from that direction. And maybe that’s why Pope Francis stood out so clearly. A gentle soul with compassion for all is a rare commodity and the world seemed to realize it as we mourned his passing. Let’s all hope he’s not that last of that breed.
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