...and not just for obvious reasons.
When the world caught its first glimpse of Pope Leo XIV, those in my immediate circle scratched their heads: yes, he's an American, and yes, he's from Chicago, but... who is this guy?
In past days, we've learned more about the man local sports radio now affectionately refers to as "Bob from Dolton," and what we're finding has filled me with hope on multiple levels. One detail from his biography, however, fills me with a great sense of enthusiasm:
Over the course of eleven years, he served as prior of the community... formation director... and instructor for professed members... and in the Archdiocese of Trujillo as judicial vicar... and professor of Canon Law, Patristics, and Moral Theology at the Major Seminary “San Carlos y San Marcelo.” At the same time, he was also entrusted with the pastoral care of Our Lady Mother of the Church, later established as the parish of Saint Rita (1988–1999), in a poor suburb of the city, and was parish administrator of Our Lady of Monserrat from 1992 to 1999.
In other words, beyond all the tasks expected of a religious superior, he was a pastor. A parish priest for 11 years. He lived among us and for us. He knows well those slightly uncomfortable moments pastors must endure, whether in celebration or in mourning. It isn't theory to Pope Leo XIV: he's lived it, in one of the most challenging places in the world. Armed with the experience of a pastor, I believe he's uniquely qualified among recent popes not only to love the people of God, but to guide the overwhelming majority of priests who serve in parish settings.
Praxis Matters
Even among the "genius popes" of Benedict XVI and St. John Paul, there was always a chasm between theory and experience. Recognized early for their brilliance, both of these giants were set on a rising path through the Church, with only St. John Paul receiving brief experience in the parish as a parochial vicar working below a pastor.
Francis held firm to the pastoral ideal, as priests were encouraged to "smell like the sheep," stepping away from the mere confines of the parish. At the same time, the ideal tended to stop at the slogan, with little by way of guidance in terms of what this looks like for the majority of the world's clergy. How is such a thing actualized, especially in urban areas where there are no central gathering points? What does this look like with young people, who increasingly build parasocial relationships around technology, rather than local, community-based ones? How, as Pope Leo himself once acknowledged, do we really go after the Lost Sheep we no longer have access to? These are the questions contemporary pastors ask, in light of the call to the ideal.
Leo's practical experience will aid him greatly as he continues with the themes promoted by his predecessors. Praxis involves considering a great number of challenges that are often lost on generals with little experience in the field.
But they're not lost on Leo, because he's one of us. I look forward to seeing where he takes these themes, and how we can utilize them more completely for the betterment of the people in the pews as well as the priests who serve them.