Pope Francis - Accepting the greatest challenge

When Barack Obama was sworn in as 44th President of the United States on Jan 20, 2009, the event was expected to spark great, positive change.

The sense of expectation among the million-strong crowd in Washington that day — a record for the city — was palpable and was reflected not just across America but across most of the western world. It went far beyond the excitement created by the fact history was being made by the inauguration of the first African-American as president of the United States.

President Obama encouraged that optimism by using a phrase from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address — “a new birth of freedom” — as his inaugural theme. He referred to the uplifting ideals expressed by Lincoln about renewal, continuity and national unity. In hindsight, he created a burden of expectation so great that it could never be realised. Indeed, his first term fell so short of what he had promised that his re-election was not at all certain.

Yesterday, the parallels between President Obama’s first inauguration and Pope Francis, as he celebrated his inaugural Mass in front of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims in Rome, were apparent and considerable.

Just as Obama was the first African-American elected president, Pope Francis is the first non-European to be elected Pope. His pontificate, as Obama’s presidency was and is, is expected to lead to renewal and change, reform and a new relevance.

Both men are very different in outlook and style to their predecessors, so much so that their attraction is based, partially at least, on the simple fact that they are not Pope Benedict or George W Bush. Both men seem affable and deeply influenced by the realisation that opportunity is not equally divided around the world. Though both men seem casual, in terms of the burden of their office at least, it is obvious they are determined to use their time in office to advance the most simple but most powerful ideals — equity, honesty and opportunity.

Just as Francis takes over a Church struggling to retain members and a presence as a social force in Europe, Obama inherited an America that had lost ground, even among allies. It’s hegemony, once absolute just like the Catholic Church’s, is facing growing challenges and new challengers. The Church has been gravely undermined by clerical paedophiles and the corporate cover-up of those offenders. America has lost influence because of its imperialism and so many botched interventions. The growth of China is challenging America just as the growth of secularism is challenging religions.

There is one profound, possibly decisive difference though. Barack Obama was 48 when first inaugurated, Francis is 76. This difference must influence howsuccessful each man can be in realising his ambitions.

Obama has a predetermined period in office and though that may limit his options it ensures constant renewal. Benedict’s resignation offers that option toFrancis should he, in the fullness of time, feel unable to remain in office.

Soviet despot Joseph Stalin once tried to close an argument by asking how many army divisions an unaccommodating pope had at his disposal. Obama has very many, Francis has none, but by showing real commitment to the values, principles and humanity that every great leader advances one can be as influential as the other. That can only be good news for everyone who believes in the cornerstone truths of Christianity and democracy — tolerance, peace, honesty, equity, and love for your fellow man.