Life without Pope Francis feels dark and uncertain.
For the last dozen years he challenged the church to be more loving to all people, more like the grace of God that knows no limits.
This morning I talked with a Roman Catholic friend of mine that worries for her, and other people’s, inclusion in the church. Pope Francis did a lot to recognize the sacred value of LGBT+ people. From asking, “who am I to judge” to sitting at tables and sharing meals with transgender Women of Color who are sex workers, Francis showed incredible courage.
When Pope Francis was asked about the risk he took in welcoming
“For this reason, I am not worried that some will throw in my face that I receive [transgender people] in the general audience on Wednesdays... The first time [the transgender group] came and saw me, they left crying, saying that I shook their hand, gave a kiss… As if I had done something exceptional with them. But they are daughters of God! [God] still loves you just like that, just the way you are. Jesus teaches us not to set limits.”
Pope Francis saw people like me as “daughters of God.”
Let us all work, in every place we find ourselves, to see each other as divine siblings. We can not exclude anyone if we see them as family.
I don’t know what will happen without Pope Francis leadership, but we can all work to make the church at least as inclusive as Jesus was.
