Pope Francis: A non-‘trapope’

I heard the news that he will visit our country and I said, “Finally, a non-‘trapope!'”

That’s how I call him – non-“trapope.”

“Trapo” in politics, means traditional politician, one who believes in the old ways of political patronage. But in the Church, I surmise, there is a “trapope,” a traditional Pope. Pope Francis does not appear to be one.

He shakes not only the Church but the whole world. The conservatives and traditionalists are startled; reformists and progressives see a beacon of hope. And he will visit us come January 15, 2015.

Pope Francis has had a huge effect on my life, especially my life as a seminarian. I admire the reforms introduced by Pope Francis or “The People’s Pope,” as the media call him. There are a myriad of reasons why I, and many Catholics and non-Catholics alike, love him. “Let me count the ways.”

Withhold judgment

He said at the start of his papacy that the Church has been obsessed for years. “We can’t insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and contraception. When we speak of these issues, we have to talk about them in context,” he said. I agree; personally, as a member of the Church, there is nothing wrong with presenting the stand of the Church on these points of debate.

And, clearly, Pope Francis is not encouraging Christians, especially priests, to stop decrying these things. This would be tantamount to stifling their freedom of expression. But I understand where he is coming from – he is asking us to not be judgmental and exaggeratedly obsessed with these, talking about and condemning them at all times. If we do, we we are obscuring other valuable issues such as poverty, human rights, peace and compassion.

All the more, it’s unjust to damn and label the proponents of these issues as say, “Team Patay,” which was slammed by compassionate and progressive priests.

Media reports online say Pope Francis sneaks out to visit the poor. Honestly, at first I was surprised and incredulous, but his track record seems to be consistent with that. The hungry, the less fortunate, the homeless, the marginalized – they have a special place in the heart of this special Pope. If I may say, Pope Francis simply wants us to feed the hungry and love the poor, plain and simple.

Unlike his predecessors, he is more lenient and friendlier to the gay community. He made headlines with his “Who am I to judge?” when asked by a journalist about his opinion on gays. I agree; who is he to judge? Who are we to judge? Who are we, finite and imperfect beings, to judge a man attracted to another man and a woman attracted to another woman? Who are we to condemn them and say they will surely burn in hell? Let Christ be the sole judge!

Simplicity

Humble and simple are two of the many adjectives I can use to describe the Servant of the Servants of God. Evidently, he is a humble, poor and a pro-poor Pope who wishes for a humbler, poorer and a pro-poor Church. He believes that the Church should shun the luxurious tradition.

He put an end to the Imeldific tradition of the Pope’s lifestyle. He chooses a simple car rather than others’ Mercedes or custom made Renault. In lieu of purchasing brand new shoes he had his shoes repaired. And, purportedly, he suspended a German bishop to prove that his plea for a “poorer Church” is neither a joke nor mere show-off.

I share same sentiments with the poor Pope. Indeed, the Church should wear the shoes of the poor. It does not mean, however, that priests and nuns should starve, become homeless and throw away their cellphones. But the ordained ministers, nuns and seminarians, including myself, ought to realize the difference between need and want.

We have to be with the poor, to open the doors for them. And one way of practicing that virtue is by having simple cellphones, clothes, houses and cars. I have seen bishops and priests who wear fancy clothes, use cellphones that are the latest models, their cars the fast and expensive ones. Thanks to some nuns and priests like Cardinal Chito Tagle who prove that there are still simple workers of God in the Church. I hope, come January 2015, the Holy Father will be strict in reminding us “workers in God’s vineyard” the value of simplicity.

One God

I am a seminarian who believes in opening the Church’s doors and I dream of a progressive and reform-oriented Church. But even I was amazed when the Pontiff said, “There is no Catholic God but there is a God.” I was surprised not because I disagree with him but because it was my first time to hear a pope say it. And, yes, I agree we are all under one God.

Pope Francis did not abolish the Holy Trinity, but as I see it, he was calling for solidarity; he was encouraging us to be united. For instance, some Catholics were angry during the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) 100^th anniversary and were busy labeling and cursing the sect’s leaders and followers.

When I was asked about the issue, I told them that, yes, we can all debate with them and oppose their doctrine but I chose not to. Don’t fret, I, too, believe that Christ is 100% human and 100% Divine. My loving and compassionate Jesus is a God and not just a mere prophet. But what I did not like was when some Catholics mocked the INC. Why can’t we just let them be triumphant? Why can’t we just work with them or befriend them since we are all humans under “one God”?

Regardless of gender, wealth, race and religion, there is a God watching us and looking down upon us with love and compassion. So let us embrace our siblings not only in the INC, but in other religions as well like Islam, Protestantism and even atheism.

The Bishop of Rome without a doubt reforms the Church, but it seems he is not ultra-progressive; he is not open to the ordination of women. Honestly, I neither support nor decline the proposal but I am open to it. While it is true that he is not open with it, it does not follow that he is anti-women. He, in fact, acknowledged and reiterated the vital role of women in the Church and society and he personally called and consoled a rape victim.

Sexual abuses

Let me now shift to a perennial and sensitive issue – the sexual abuses in the Church. He was the first to act on these cases. This time, I just don’t agree but I staunchly agree! Clearly, sexual abuses are anti-Christ and anti-human. These abusive cases should never be taken lightly; justice must prevail even if they are ordained ministers. Apologies, whether sincere or not, will never be enough!

If ministers need to be put behind bars and be suspended, Amen I say to it. How can they teach morality if they rape or molest an innocent child of God? I hope that Pope Francis introduces great reforms and at least deters these appalling incidents.

What I like most about him is, he is different. He is indeed the Vicar of Christ – not just by title but by deed as well.

Come January 15, I hope we will experience not a physical super typhoon, but a “spiritual typhoon.” I hope everyone – woman, man, rich, poor, Catholic, non-Catholic, atheist, prisoner, farmer, youth, government official, priest, nun, PWD – experiences the “Francis effect” I am experiencing now.

I hope that this non-“trapope” will have many more years in the Church. Not just the Church, but the whole world, needs a non-“trapope” like Pope Francis. – Rappler.com

Juliane Tabarangao is a 2nd year seminarian of a religious congregation (AB Philo, Minor in English). Besides being busy with his academics and his vocation, he aspires to be a professional writer.