Until I saw Pope Francis’ “I am asking in the name of God” on the shelf, I didn’t even know it existed. I do not actively pursue books by or about the Popes but I’ve read a few. [‘Journal of a Soul” by Pope St. John XXIII is one of my favorites.] Thus, why? I have my suspicions but I’ll keep them to myself. Francis sums up this short book with an all-in push for hope. He separately discusses ten topics for prayer under the overall title: “I am asking in the name of God ... “ which are: eradicate abuse in the Church, protect our common home (earth), fight fake news, through Politics pursue the common good, stop wars, open doors to immigrants and refugees, equal opportunity and rewards for women, allow and encourage economic growth of poor countries, universal access to health care, and do not use God to incite wars.

This was not an easy book to read. Early on, I dwelled on the notion that the worst job on earth had to be that of pope. He has immense responsibility while his authority may be likened to a tsetse fly. The man elected is immediately faced with the decision to accept or reject election, and to say who he will be called. Every one of the electors have seen how prior occupants of the job were treated yet someone always says yes. Duty? Honor? Hope?

As I read on, I thought I could see Francis pushing towards an all powerful United Nations vision. This, of course, is a typical suspicion of many citizens of the USA. We have a love-hate attitude toward the UN. Our taxpayers carry that organization around on our backs and, for the most part, it is not friendly towards us. Alas, what we can’t seem to appreciate is the many great minds working within that organization for the ultimate goal of the betterment of humankind.

Finally, more than half way, it came to me that Francis was not advocating a world organization to do what the individual nations have not been able to do by themselves. No, he was describing a course for the 200+ nations of the wold to seek unity of purpose in actions to bring about good for all. God pointed us in this direction way back in Genesis when humanity set out to build its own stairs to heaven. All of a sudden, the people could no longer understand each other for God had introduced languages. Humanity had to learn to communicate. We still have to learn that basic function and that is when Francis draws us back to hope.

Thank you Pope Francis for writing such a simple lesson. ( )