Cranmer: The Francis Effect

I will let the picture and the Archbishop speak for themselves. God bless this pope.

We judge by appearances. O, we can watch John Hurt slobber about as the Elephant Man and shed a sympathetic tear, but we wouldn’t invite him to dinner. Well, we might now, but only because he’s become a celebrity and there’s cachet in the association.
Pope Francis - disfigured man
Visiting St Peter’s Square, most of us would shun this poor wretch because of his Elephant Man-like appearance. We would certainly decline to share a communion chalice with him, for fear of some unknown contagion. But, like his namesake St Francis of Assisi, this Pope abjures his royal palace, lives in a guest house with his brothers, and prays deeply – quite movingly – for a modern-day leper. Indeed, the Pope kissed the carbuncles upon this poor man’s deformed forehead.

Humility and holiness in action.

It is Christ-like.

Read and reflect on the whole thing. How are you doing in this area?