Thursday, March 28, 2013

The new Pope, not like the old Pope

As I read the news about Pope Francis, I am struck by his un-Pope-like behavior. He recently washed the feet of a female Muslim prisoner. Who does that?

While popes have for centuries washed the feet of the faithful on the day before Good Friday, never before had a pontiff washed the feet of a woman. That one of the female inmates at the prison in Rome was also a Serbian Muslim was also a break with tradition.
Pope washes feet of young Muslim woman prisoner in unprecedented twist on Maundy Thursday. 

I live on hope. I have hope that this Pope will make a difference. That this Pope will end clergy sexual abuse and a host of other problems. I have hope. I am not optimistic and time will tell.