THROUGH UNTRUE
Fr. Rolando V. dela Rosa, O.P.
In 1961, Fr. Jorge Bergoglio went to visit Fr. Enrico Pozzoli, an elderly priest who was confined in the hospital. Fr. Enrico was the one who baptized Fr. Jorge, and later became his long-time friend, benefactor, and spiritual director.
When Fr. Jorge arrived at the hospital, he was told that Fr. Enrico was asleep so he refrained from entering the latter's room. While waiting, he engaged in a long conversation with another priest until a nurse informed him that Fr. Enrico had awakened and he could now visit him.
Fr. Jorge told the nurse: “Tell Fr. Enrico that there is an urgent apostolic work I had to attend to.” He then left the hospital without having visited the elderly priest.
A few days later, Fr. Enrico passed away. When Fr. Jorge learned about it, he was devastated. His conscience bothered him because he was not present during Fr. Enrico's final moments. Worst of all, he invented an excuse to avoid seeing Fr. Enrico at a time when the latter needed him most.
In a biography of Fr. Jorge (from which this story is taken), Austen Ivereigh writes that it took many years before Fr. Jorge got over that sad experience, but he learned one painful lesson from it—that deep inside every one of us, there remains the tendency to be indifferent, unloving, and selfish. Regardless of how far one has progressed in holiness, he remains constantly in need of God’s mercy and forgiveness. Perhaps this is one reason why, when Fr. Jorge became Pope Francis, one of his most famous questions was: “Who am I to judge?”
A favorite painting of Pope Francis is "The Call of Matthew," by the Italian painter, Caravaggio. It shows Jesus pointing at Matthew, as though saying: "I choose you!" Matthew's surprise is beautifully captured in the painting. He was a tax collector and a person whom the Jews regarded as a public sinner,
Commenting on that gospel scene, St. Bede the Venerable wrote: “Jesus saw Matthew, the tax collector and, seeing him through the eyes of mercy (miserando), and (atque) choosing him (eligendo), he said, 'Follow me.'”
Pope Francis took these words "Miserando atque eligendo” as his motto when he became bishop, and later integrated it in his papal coat of arms. For him, the words fittingly describe himself. He is someone like Matthew who became an apostle only because of God's mercy.
In one interview, Pope Francis was asked: "Who is Jorge Bergoglio?" He replied: "I am a sinner. This is the most accurate definition of myself. It is not a figure of speech. Yes, a sinner. That is what I am. God chose me not because I am qualified to be the pope, but because God has been merciful to me." He echoes the words of St. Paul who wrote: "Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the foremost" (1Timothy 1:15). Pope Francis believes that God chose him to become pope, not for who he is, but for what he can become through His grace.
Today, Divine Mercy Sunday, as we try to overcome our sinful tendencies, let us rely more on God's mercy than on our efforts. Let us humbly pray:
Dear God, we believe that you called us to become your companions and co-workers in God’s vineyard. But we are aware of our failure. We feel our words are empty, our minds feeble, and our hearts torn by conflicting desires. Reassure us of your mercy, remind us that your grace is sufficient for us, and your power is made perfect in our weakness. Amen.