1 day Ago
I am moved as I review a video of my recent close encounter with Pope Francis, our Lolo Kiko. It was last January during the Jubilee for communicators. He was being wheeled through the central aisle of the auditorium, people crowding toward him.
A lady nearby was shouting words of thanks, and I joined her in expressing my gratitude. Beside me was a fellow Pinoy who kept on repeating, Mabuhay, Lolo Kiko! I shouted: Te queremos mucho, Santo Padre. Great job! It was a conviction I have always kept.
As a theologian, I try to base my thinking on current issues from the perspective of faith. Faith in all the teachings of Jesus and His Church, which includes faith in God who decided to speak and govern through a pope. Pope Francis viewed the Church and the world as a field hospital—so many people wounded, so much suffering.
And what struck me most was his emphasis on mercy. It is emblazoned in his motto: Miserando atque eligendo, meaning having mercy and choosing, showing that mercy will permeate his entire pontificate. More importantly, he gave it a strong theological basis.
Mercy is not one more trait of God, it is the central truth of God. This insight has operationalizing implications on how we are to live our lives and on how the Church has to be organized. I believe these are his top seven accomplishments: He understood God, whom he loved with all his heart and might.
Understanding God so deeply, he has left a legacy that will not last only until this year. Since mercy is the central truth of God and God’s nature is forever, this legacy is for all times. We are fortunate—deeply fortunate—for being his children in this new stage of the Church—a stage of the centrality and operationalization of mercy—that will have to last forever.
RAUL NIDOY, [email protected] Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy ..
