May 9, 2025
We have a new Pope, Leo XIV.
We arrived in Jordan on early Easter Sunday. Hannah brought us to an Arabic Catholic Mass at 10:00 am. Although. we could not understand the service, it was nice to be worshipping on Easter Sunday. And the singing was good. There was a police presence there with a car with shaded windows and a Jordanian flag on its hood. Normal, maybe ? We left before the communion part, but we stayed for the giving of the peace of Christ.
Then on Monday morning, I went out for a walk up the hill ( there is always a hill or steps to climb in Amman), and stopped for a coffee, a rich, strong blend of Turkish coffee. When I arrived back in their apartment. Hannah said the Pope died. He had just celebrated communion in Rome for Easter. I know he has been sick and in hospital for weeks but it was still a surprise.
I thought Pope Francis had the compassion of Christ. He stood up for the poor, the marginalized and the refugees. He was not afraid of the world’s powerful men and women. He stood up for the Palestinian people, saying the continued attacks on Gaza were wrong. Francis has the heart for the world. Since the beginning of the onslaught on Gaza, Pope Francis phoned the very small Catholic community in Gaza every evening, to love them and to show that the whole world has not forgotten them.
I hope Pope Leo XIV will be the same compassionate man as Frances was . My prayer for him is that the Spirit will guide his words and his actions throughout his tenure as Pope.
Fred
black and white shadows
crush humanity’s freedom
am I complicit ?
MPL 2025
Ponder Anew 