As an editor in Catholic media, it is part of my job to follow what Pope Francis is doing and saying. That could be why the CatholicMatch Institute asked me to write this blog post.
So, here are 10 things that are cool (cute, inspiring and interesting) about our Holy Father, among many.
1. He has a top-10 list for happiness that includes playing with children, leisure, reading and Sunday family time (sounds like a good recipe for married life!).
2. He donated $1 million to help Iraqi refugees.
3. He hates gossip: “I am convinced that if each one of us would purposely avoid gossip, at the end, we would become a saint!”
4. He has a personal relationship with Jesus, reminding us: “Faith is a meeting with Jesus Christ.”
5. He loves children — and supports them from their littlest selves — and families. He also takes the best photos when he blesses babies (Who doesn’t want her baby blessed by the Pope?), gives marriage advice via the Holy Family and describes marriage as “man and woman walking together, wherein the husband helps his wife to become ever more a woman and wherein the woman has the task of helping her husband to become ever more a man.” I love that! His words on motherhood and fatherhood are also worth reading.
6. He sees Jesus in everyone, and it is the sweetest thing ever. Some of my favorite examples are this, this and this.
7. He takes on the devil.
8. He has a house named after him.
9. He loves Mary, Joseph and St. Thérèse.
10. He is hope-filled: “Christian hope, then, is our joyful expectation of the Lord’s coming and the fulfillment of his saving plan for the human family.” (I love hope, after all.)
Amy Smith is the associate editor for the National Catholic Register.
