Watching hundreds of thousands wait 12 hours for a 12 second glimpse of Pope Francis, listening to jaded journalists drop their professionalism and confess their faith — or desire for it — when covering the Pope, and seeing self-serving politicians become humble and hopeful, I ask, what is this “Francis Effect?”
In the end, it’s not about Pope Francis. He would be the first to say so. A gimmicky CNN invitation asking viewers to tweet three words describing the Pope yielded this from one its reporters: “Not me. You.”
But what causes this response? It is, quite simply, the authentic message of the gospel. The gospel of mercy, the gospel of joy, the gospel of love. Christians believe that Jesus is the compassion of God. The church is formed to embody this reality.
Yet, that’s not what we normally see and hear. Instead, we’re presented with all these versions of the gospel that are imposters. The gospel of success. The gospel of wealth. The gospel of self-improvement. The gospel of American exceptionalism. The gospel of cultural superiority. The gospel of self-righteous exclusion. People hear, read, and see these supposed versions of the gospel. And of course, they become cynical, alienated, and dismissive. They are sick and tired of it. So am I.
But then, there comes this one who simply announces the gospel. A gospel of mercy, a gospel that begins not with those in power, but those on the periphery. A gospel that places “the least of these” at the center. A gospel that washes the feet of Muslims in prison. A gospel that welcomes the stranger. A gospel that confesses failure. And a gospel that offers hope.
And these aren’t just words. This gospel drives around in a Fiat, and visits those who serve the forgotten. It confronts the conscience of leaders, asking them to trust rather than to hate. And it beholds the gift of God’s creation.
All Francis is doing is directing attention back to the gospel, to the real thing, to the presence of Jesus.
Francis knows the church is full of failure, disgraced by sin, and corrupted by power. Churches from all Christian traditions, from cathedrals to store-front congregations, struggle to live faithfully. Francis does what he can, internally, to change some of that. But he draws the world’s attention back to the message of the gospel, and makes it into a personal call, an invitation, and a challenge. We find ourselves asking, how does it address me?
The “Francis Effect” is that he’s opened a window to a fresh glimpse of the gospel. And that’s where the power lies. Frankly, it’s amazing how, after all that has been done to compromise, tarnish, abuse, and corrupt the message of Jesus, the real thing still shines through. The gospel of Jesus Christ has power, the power of God, the power of resurrected life, the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
It reminds us all, not just to believe in Jesus, but to believe Jesus. Praised be.
Wesley Granberg-Michaelson is a Sojourners board member and former general secretary of the Reformed Church in America. His most recent book is Without Oars: Casting Off into a Life of Pilgrimage.
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