These words, ““May God forgive you for what you’ve done,” were spoken by Pope Francis to a group of Vatican elite just after he was elected Pope. He’s a breath of fresh air, a force of humble caring, a person of example – and, guess what, he’s accepted an invitation by John Boehner to address congress!
So this September, this marvelous agent of joy, humor, hope, and change will be on our soil. Will we pause for reflection? The trend is away from religious belief in Europe and now in the USA. Will we listen to his message about the environment and the need to love and serve our fellow man? Let’s hope. The Pope’s secret to happiness is anything by preachy: “Last year, he was asked about his secret to happiness. He said slow down. Take time off. Live and let live. Don’t proselytize. Work for peace. Work at a job that offers basic human dignity. Don’t hold on to negative feelings. Move calmly through life. Enjoy art, books and playfulness.”