Pope Paul VI kissing the feet of the Altar Boy during the washing of the Feet
It is quite a contrast perceiving the Vicar of Christ opting for the simple things in life midst the majestic setting of Saint Peter Square and all those ornate ceremonies that originated hundreds of years back. One can easily differentiate the present from the past pontificates with Pope Francis “walking the talk.” Truly a hallmark of credibility in the making.
Thank God Pope Francis is a holy Pope. On the other hand we must not forget that this simplicity of lifestyle was started by Pope Paul VI who decided to stop wearing his Tiara and even sold it for Charity. Then, he gave up his Papal ring adorned with expensive and large Ruby for charity as well. He started wearing simpler vestments and it was imitated by Pope John Paul I, St. John Paul the Great and now Pope Francis.
Before the election of Pope John XXIII the Popes were prisoners of the Vatican in protest of the Italian government which had taken away the Papal States. But ST. JOHN XXIII refused to be a prisoner of the Vatican. He visited prisons, orphanages, seminaries and convents and monasteries outside the Vatican. He started by removing the rule that the Pope must eat alone. He started inviting Cardinals, Bishops and Priests and scholars to join him on the table and starting a dialogue in philosophy, theology, social issues and others. That is why he is so loved and respected even by atheists and communists because although he disagree with them he reason out with them as Cardinal Angelo Roncalli and as Pope. Then VEN. POPE PAUL VI followed the example of his saintly predecessor. For the first time in centuries the Pope left Italy to visit his flock. He went to Holy Land, he went to the Philippines, Brazil and even spoke before the United Nations in New York declaring in his Address before the U.N.: “No more war, no more war…”
Centuries ago a Cardinal demanded that the Patriarch of Constantinople kneel before him as a sign of submission being the Legate of the Pope. The Orthodox resented that bitterly. So Pope Paul VI when he met a Metropolitan delegate from Constantinople was the one who knelt in front of the Orthodox Archbishop to erase the memory of the arrogant demand in the past. By doing so the Pope showed humility and he didn’t lose his authority and dignity at all. The more he is loved and respected. When the Pope is sitting together with the Orthodox leaders, I notice that he is the one most simply dressed. The capes and the robes of the Orthodox including their icons in the necklaces and the golden pastoral staffs are simply so grand. Yet, it is the Pope that shines the most and all cameras and attention were on him. He is the one that gets the attention of the media and the throngs. No matter how simple the Successor of Peter is he is still above the other Bishops of the World. He is truly the Vicar of Christ.
What Pope Francis is doing now, most of them had been done by the previous Popes of Vatican II. Pope Benedict XVI like Francis was walking on the roads of Rome as Cardinal and as Pope. He too refused to ride on the Pope mobile with bullet proofs. Actually all Popes never used the Pope mobile until St. John Paul the Great was shot in St. Peter Square.
Pope Pius XII refused to scape to U.S. during World War II and decided to stay with his people in the Vatican and he made the Vatican a Sanctuary for Jews and poor people from various countries affected by war. He opened all Monasteries, Convents, Seminaries to hide Jews from the Nazi. It is true story. For instance, it is depicted in the movie THE SOUND OF MUSIC when the Nuns of the Monasteries hide the Von Trapp families from the Nazi. That movie is a real life story of the same family. Then, during the bombings of Rome Pope Pius XII was rushing to the scenes in few minutes to give money and bread to the people, to pray over the dead and lead those who survive in prayer. It was a very courageous act since he was outside the territory of the Vatican he could be arrested by the Nazis without the diplomatic protection. Also, he sold many golden vessels of the Vatican to ransom Jews arrested by the Nazis of Rome. He is near sainthood too. He is Venerable now. Pope Paul VI is also Venerable and soon shall be canonized due to the approval of his miracle by the panel of medical scientists.
Pope Francis is a Holy Pope and a very good Pope but his predecessors are as great and as holy. Actually, it is common among Catholics to think that their present Pope is the best of them all. I always thought that ST. JOHN PAUL THE GREAT is the best of them all but my professors told me that for them VEN. POPE PAUL VI is the best, then the oldest priests I interviewed told me that the best is VEN. POPE PIUS XII. Middle Aged people today always post photos and quotes of POPE BENEDICT XVI because they miss him so and for them he is the best. Indeed, he is the best theologian and author of them all. His books are treasures, gems of wisdom and theological knowledge. They guy could become a Doctor of the Church. Unfortunately he became Pope very very old. He cannot do what the younger Popes were doing but he too lived in holiness in a heroic degree. Most of the reforms done by Francis today are actually implementation of the plans and programs of Benedict XVI.
I LOVE THEM ALL. WE LOVE THEM ALL. THANKS BE TO GOD FOR GIVING US SUCH EXCEPTIONALLY HOLY POPES THIS CENTURY AND THE LAST.
VIVA EL CRISTO REY Y LA VIRGEN MARIA NUESTRA MADRE Y REINA.
VIVA EL PAPA.