Matthew 10:16
"I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."
Your perspective is valuable to me, and I thank you for your time and care in setting it forth so thoughtfully.
Quickly scan the highlights of Papa Francisco's life and you may begin to suspect, as I do, that this man --- with the shrewdness of a serpent and the innocence of a dove ---is a savvy operator and a saint.
Look:
- In 15 days, he has already taken complete control of the Media NarrativeTM. He acts, they react: and not the other way around. The man is a genius.
- The moral renegades have just lost their "Cares for los Pobres" sombrero: in a flash, the Pope is wearing it now. Neat hat trick, that.
- Know what's going to happen if some Lord Cardinal in "the Cathedral of Christ the Rich" says "I think contraception, sterilization and abortion have to be reconsidered in the light of caring, ca-a-a-r-r-r-ing for the ne-e-e-eeds of women" ? He's going to be handed his head on a platter: because Papa Frank has already earned the rhetorical power to say, "The Lord's way, the Catholic way, is love, life, and compassion: your way is a crime."
- The really bad guys --- unclean beasts, Judas priests --- are smiling for the photographers but sh***ing their pants right now. Why? Because Papa Francisco has signaled that he is not a man to be controlled by his own Master of Ceremonies or blackmailed by his butler. Subtle and plain as a smack on your face: he's going to use his full Bishop- of - Rome authority ---in all things big things and small.
Everyone knows a priest has to be a male. He is going to show that he has to be a man.
None of this indicates rupture from the Great Tradition or a break with his predecessors. Bergoglio is Ratzingerian. In fact, I think he and Papa Ratzi are have their heads together on this. Bergoglio consciously gave Ratzinger the tiara in 2005 when (according to Il Stampa) he gave a short, emotional speech begging the Cardinals not to vote for him on, they say, the fifth ballot. This is just my hypothesis, but I think, on his part, Ratzi wanted Bergoglio to have a crack at being the next pope, and B16's abdication was the only timely way to do it.
Alfred Xuereb, B16's aide, the one who always accompanied him on his trips, was appointed on Day One as Jorge's private secretary. And he is not the only liaison between F1 and B16. They are not "co-popes," and yet...
Ecumenism to the East? Jorge enthusiastically went out of his way, early in his priesthood, to learn the celebrate the Byzantine Liturgy. He is under the patronage of Mary, Untier of Knots. He was Prelate for Eastern Catholics in Argentina, AND had Patriarch Bartholomew at his installation, -- forget about 'the first time in 1,000 years,' this was the first time in history. He's been doing metanias to his Brethren the Patriarchs for decades. That his favorite title is simply "Bishop of Rome"--- you think that doesn't make Orthodox eyes sparkle? I hear the Abbas are saying "Axios!"
Keep praying. Christ's chief shepherd on earth and his flock are still surrounded by wolves --- some of them, wolves in shepherd's clothing. The game is serious; the stakes couldn't be higher; but honest to God, Papa Francisco is playing a cool, cool hand.
