On the New Pope

Now that Pope Francis has had a month to show his "Papal flair" if you will, I think it's an appropriate time to discuss what changes he will bring to the Church, and what the theme of his Papacy will be.  So far, what we have seen is humility. From checking out of his hotel in person, refusing the Papal apartment, and riding in the windowless Pope-mobile, it seems that our new Pope is displaying the true theme of the Church. The Church isn't about being a museum for the perfect. It's a hospital for the broken. In order to be a part of the Church, we must accept our flaws and be humble enough to truly trust God.  That's exactly what Pope Francis shows. His behavior displays the statement "I am the Pope but that only means I am a greater servant." Now, let's go through the possible explanations for his behavior.

Pope Francis checking out of his hotel after his election

First is the nature of the Papacy. Pope Francis seems to understand the role of the Pope as a role of servitude. He isn't meant to sit upon a throne. He is meant to be on his knees, serving God in evangelizing the world. From checking out of his hotel in person to taking the city bus as a cardinal to riding in a windowless Pope-mobile, he displays incredible humility. That seems to be the underlying theme beneath all of his actions: humility. He is trying to demonstrate that he is not a king, he is not a president, and his authority is merely the authority to serve. Rather than putting a king in charge of a country, his belief is that the Pope should be like a trusted servant, serving others instead of having others serve him. When you trust an employee, you know they do a good job. Otherwise you wouldn't bestow any trust upon them. That's how the Papacy is to Pope Francis. It's like being a trusted servant. God is entrusting the Church to him, not placing him on a throne.

The second, and perhaps less noticeable, reason for his humility could possibly be his Jesuit vows.  As a Jesuit, he has vowed to have a life of poverty, not seeking extravagance. Rather, as a Jesuit, he is to be a servant. That's how he takes the Papacy. He follows the Jesuit vows in his Primacy by remaining in poverty. While some may say there ought not be a Jesuit Pope, this shows why the Pope is a radically different kind of authority. Francis is not only performing the role of Pope, but he is redefining it. He's defining it as more of a servant's role than a king's role. It is not glory he seeks, it is the authority to follow the teachings of Christ and spread them to the world.