Papal Visit Day 4 – The People Person

                Today’s observation started a few days ago when I noticed that Pope Francis generally has seemed pretty somber or stoic at his public events.  I certainly understand if he’s tired or nervous, and I hear that his sciatica has been acting up.  But last night, I saw something different.   When he greeted Cardinal Dolan on the tarmac at JFK Airport, his face broke into a warm, broad smile as they exchanged a brotherly embrace – a “man hug,” as my daughter would call it.  Later, at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, he worked the crowd as he walked up the center aisle, grabbing the hand of a religious sister and caressing the face of a young girl in a wheel chair.  It’s clear that Pope Francis loves people.

                Pope Francis’ love of people was all-the-more evident today.  His address to the General Assembly of the United Nations was all about people and how the nations of the world need to work together to help real people facing real problems.  At the 9/11 Museum, he spent time with families who lost loved ones on that tragic day, mourning with people who mourn.  That beaming smile returned this afternoon at Our Lady Queen of the Angels School in East Harlem where he laughed and played with the children, and was the subject of countless selfies.  He then hopped on the Pope Mobile to greet some 80,000 people (you read that right) who came out to show the Pope who loves people that they love him too.  Pope Francis’ day was topped off with the celebration of the Holy Mass, our most cherished liturgy, with 20,000 people at Madison Square Garden.  It’s quite fitting that liturgy means “the work of the people.”

          Popes usually sign their names with the suffix P.P., which stands for Supreme Pontiff.  Folksy Pope Francis doesn’t use that title, but maybe he should.  In his case, though, I think it would stand for People Person.