Pope Francis does not see the poor and suffering
as mere food for thought for his homilies. They are the “flesh of Christ”.
This is why he continues to remind Christians of the importance of getting close to the poor in order to “touch the flesh” of Jesus.
Bergoglio set an example by visiting Centro Astalli, a Jesuit refugee centre in downtown Rome.
The Pope really “put his money where his mouth was” by going there in person. His physical presence was worth a thousand of his powerful words.
What is most striking is the style of the new Bishop of Rome, who moves about “his” city with such ease. He turned up at the refugee centre in the usual blue Ford Focus, no escorts, no entourage. He didn’t even take his personal secretary with him.
Francis scheduled this visit himself – as he scheduled so many other meetings and audiences – by telephoning Centro Astalli in person, because as the Argentinean Pope said, “we need to learn to be normal”.
Strangely enough, those around him are finding this concept of “normality” and sobriety hard to grasp and take on board: cardinals turned up with an entourage, while Francis did not.
Francis’ message regarding convents - “Dear men and women religious, “empty convents are not for the Church to transform into hotels and make money from them. Empty convents are not ours, they are for the flesh of Christ: refugees” - sent shock waves through the Church.
The Catholic Church’s supporting bodies do a great deal. But they need to be courageous and do more.
Francis does not preach to others about solidarity, he starts at home, setting an example.
“This Pope really makes the poor and needy feel that God is close to them,” a smiley African girl said on her way out of the refugee centre. “I think the biggest change is to do with his personality.
He is a direct witness of the faith,” said the Archbishop of Milan, Angelo Scola in Mantua. “His gestures show what faith is all about and are a lesson in themselves. A person becomes a witness when they are actively involved in what they talk about, thereby becoming an authoritative voice.”
Only prejudice and a heart of stone could mistake this gesture of closeness to the poor as “pauperism” (a negative term that is also used within a certain ecclesiastical context to justify attitudes and styles that are contrary to Bergoglio’s)
“Paying attention to the poor, being committed to helping and supporting the poor… this comes from the Gospel. It’s mentioned in the Gospel! And the Pope is very evangelical and this is obvious in the way of does things,” the theologian Gustavo Gutierrez said in an interview with Vatican Insider.
In less than a month, Pope Francis will travel to Assisi, St. Francis’ hometown, where he will visit the room where St. Francis stripped off his clothes.
On this occasion too, Bergoglio has asked to meet with poor people in the centres where they receive assistance.
It will be another chance for the Pope to speak about the “poor Church for the poor” and of the importance of “undressing” in order to be genuine and efficient witnesses of the faith in today’s world.