Thank you very much for the article. Well Done.
I wish to add, however, as someone becoming increasingly sceptical of the new Pope, that his few months in the Chair of St. Peter has had little, nothing, or less-than-nothing to do with the growth.
It has most certainly preceded his accession. I have given him the benefit of the doubt, but he continues to demonstrate to me the reason for the lightning strikes on the Vatican and the earthquake at Castel Gandolfo after Pope Benedict XVI resigned.
I will continue to remind my brothers of this because it was and is a clear and present warning, not to be ignored with happy talk. We may have a real problem on our hands, and I mention this to goad myself and others to more prayer and sacrifices for this Pope and the Church.
The Pope may or may not have had noticeable influence on this growth. God works in ways beyond human understanding and such growth in vocations may easily be the answer from God to all the many groups and people and clergy who have been praying for that growth—of whom Pope Francis very likely was included. I have been part of groups who have been doing this for a long time.
“I have given him the benefit of the doubt”. That’s generous of you, but it may be more reasonable to give him more than a few months in his incredibly difficult calling before offering your highly personalized opinion. He isn’t there to garner your approval. He is there as the servant of the servants, as head of the Church, not needing benefit of a doubt, but the support of prayer and the support of the people of God who believe more in what God has ordained at this time than in what their personal assessment is of things that are clearly under God’s purview, permission and protection.
“I will continue to remind my brothers of this...”(lightning strikes and earthquakes). I’m not sure who your “brothers” are. However, we haven’t yet had an explanation or revelation of God as to the meaning of the lightning strike and the earthquake. No angel has come to tell us what it means. How can we be sure of what it means if no one from heaven has come to tell us. All that is being asked of us is to be faithful..faithful to all that God has commanded us and written on our hearts.
Before He ascended into heaven, Our Lord told his assembled Apostles and disciples to “go out and preach the Gospel to all the world, and teach them to obey all I have commanded you.” One of his commandments was to cease judging others. In a number of memorable instances He clarified what He meant by this.
“We may have a real problem on our hands, and I mention this to goad myself and others to more prayer and sacrifice for this Pope and for the Church.”
The Church has had a problem on her hands since the beginning and will have more so to the end. How true it is that all that is really needed is more prayers and sacrifices.