With reference to John Guillaumier’s letter ‘Controversial Pope Francis’, though he can never detect any redeeming features or silent beneficial elements in whatever the Church or the Pope do, I see the situation from a completely different optimistic angle. I see Pope Francis as the third saviour of the Church, during its present turbulent period but still always growing.

In the sixth century, during the papacy of Gregory the Great, the Church was described by this great saint as a “sinking ship” but this captain who had strong hands eventually managed to steer the ship to harbour.

The same happened during the time of Francis of Assisi, who, while kneeling in front of a crucifix, heard a voice coming from it three times: “Francis go and repair my house, which thou seest falling”.

And he completed the job.

An era of great saints followed. The ‘hand of God’ was evident then and still is.

Now, this second Francis, the Holy Father, is proving to be the beacon and bright light of the most glorious triumph of the Church of Christ.

He is realistic and listens attentively to whatever the faithful have to say but not at the expense of abandoning principles and beliefs. The Church will soon shine resplendent.

By coincidence, the liturgical exhortation of the day in which Guillaumier wrote his letter to this newspaper was: “Oh, that today you would hear His voice: Harden not your hearts.”

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