by Rafael A. Calderón, Former President of Costa Rica
The message and example of Pope Francis
Pope Francis surprises with the simplicity that conveys his message, and his reflections
resonate in the conscience of those who listen to him. It is difficult to remain indifferent to his teaching; with direct words and transparency, he confronts us with political and economic issues, the challenges of globalization, or situations such as the post-pandemic and the inequity with which this health crisis was addressed, without setting aside his apostolic message.
Francis is that Jesuit priest who preaches by example, who cannot ignore his commitment to the most needy, and who has always exercised leadership, always characterized by his spirituality and character, but especially by his humility and his adherence to the preferential option for the poor, which includes the marginalized and suffering of different backgrounds, as well as his commitment to dialogue with people of different origins, creeds, and ideologies.
Jorge Bergoglio, as a Latin American, knew the different forms of injustice and oppression denounced by Liberation Theology and made his vocation an apostolate in favor of the poor. For 10 years, from the pontifical chair, he has harshly pointed out the causes of poverty and marginalization, has carried out transformations so that the Church fulfills its mission, and has called on the members of the Church to practice Christianity with adherence to the teachings of Jesus.
Are we “functional Christians” who “do what we must do, and with that, we feel that we are in order, we go to Mass, we confess once a year, we give alms, and we feel satisfied?” This is the question that Francis I asks us, inviting us to reflect and analyze whether, as Christians, we remain in the forms and forget to stop before poverty, need, and without showing any compassion for our neighbor, we continue forward, forgetting the charity that the Gospels speak of, that the Pope wants to remind us of.