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Pope Francis has captured the imagination of the world in way that few people, let alone popes, ever achieve.
There are people, usually actors and rock stars, that have the x-factor; something about them that attracts people. If I knew what it was I would be a wealthy man!
But I am not a fan of Pope Francis.
Fans celebrate when their team wins and commiserate when their team loses. They buy the shirts, flags, and seek out autographs.
Star players or top musicians and actors are paid millions to endorse a product because fans will buy. Remember, fan is short for fanatic.
People cheer Pope Francis when he makes a statement they like such as helping the poor or being inclusive – “who am I to judge” has become famous.
Rolling Stone magazine painted Pope Francis as though he were a rock star but that misses the point of him as Shepherd.
As Shepherd he is there to lead and guide the flock to an ever deeper relationship with the Triune God.
In reading Evangelii Gaudium there were things that I could not cheer – they cut me to the core and challenged me to live a life more committed to Jesus.
So yes, it is good that the world likes the Pope but I hope that we are guided by his words in deeds to love and serve God and neighbour more and more.
Adrian O’Flynn is a seminarian for the Society of Mary, studying at the Angelicum in Rome. He blogs at Freedom in Faith and can be found @AdrianOFlynn on Twitter.
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