Four days of Pope Francis, and lots of surprises...

   He goes back to his hotel to pay the bill. Buses around with the cardinals, instead of using the papal motorcade. Calls friends on the phone. Can't seem to read his prepared speeches for more than a few minutes before tossing them to the side and speaking straight from the heart. Talks about the conclave. Jokes with the press.

   And he wears black shoes like mine.

   That's my quick sketch of a pope bent on being a good shepherd who walks along beside his sheep. With his sheep. If the pope is a bridge-builder (pontifex) between God and man, Pope Francis has certainly decided to start building from our side.

   If what he's said and done so far is a good indicator of how he plans to guide the Church on its path towards God, I'd say Pope Francis' priority isn't the theological depth of his speeches. They are deep, but that's not his goal. What he cares about is the depth of the theology he leaves in our hearts.

   He's not worried about the shepherd. What he cares about are the sheep.

Benjamin O'Loughlin writes for www.formationtoolbox.com

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