THE
P RTAL
August 2015
Page 23
Pope Francis:
A wise and gifted teacher
Donato Tallo has been reflecting on Laudato Si’
Walk round
the streets of Rome and merchandise with Pope Francis on it is readily available.
From tea-towels, pens and t-shirts to statues, magnets and plates; you name it and it’s highly likely
to be available, or failing that I’m sure there’s a company or two only too willing to meet your merchandise
request should you have one!
Pope Francis has in many ways become a celebrity in
his own right - appreciated and loved by Catholics and
non-Catholics alike for his warm persona, humility
and genuine concern for all creation.
However, all of us have a duty to remember that our
Holy Father is not a celebrity figure but the successor
of St Peter; he is our shepherd and our figurehead and
should not be idolised or treated as a celebrity in our
media-driven society.
Pope Francis has proved himself to be a wise and
sensible man; he has shown that he has a genuine love
for life and for all people. All of us should endeavour
to pray for our Holy Father on a daily basis and should
seek to remember his intentions in our own prayers. Some striking quotes of
The Holy Father has shown us he is a Pope for the
many and not for the few and has shown us that true
humility comes from the heart. In Laudato S’i, the
Pope’s recent encyclical, he has identified in detail his
concern for creation and society as a whole, reminding
us of our responsibilities for future generations and
the importance of common fellowship. A keen fighter
for the common good, our Holy Father really has some
wise teachings to impart and is a man who should be
an inspiration to each and every one of us.
Let us pray that Pope Francis’ teachings will touch the
hearts of all - but for his teachings to be put into practice
surely all of us have to act on them as well as pray.
contents page
our Holy Father from Laudato Si’:
• Earth is essentially a shared inheritance, whose
fruits are meant to benefit everyone.
• The teachings of the Gospel have direct
consequences for our way of thinking, feeling and
living.
• Believers must feel challenged to live in a way
consonant with their faith.
• What kind of world do we want to leave to those
who come after us, to children who are now
growing up?
• There is an urgent need for us to move forward in
a bold cultural revolution.
• Having a home has much to do with a sense of
personal dignity and the growth of families.