"The Ironing Board was the Altar"

We have a new Pope!

“Habemus Papem!” We have a Pope!

You may be surprised that a Lutheran pastor is writing about a new Pope. Lutherans broke away from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th Century because of theological and practical abuses it felt the then Popes were creating. But, to this day, ELCA Lutherans (the largest denomination of Lutherans in the world) still are in mutually-respectful, faithful, and loving ecumenical dialogue with Roman Catholics. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. The family of God.

Today, the first American ever was elected Pope by the College of Cardinals. Robert Francis Prevost is now Pope Leo XIV. I am happy about this. Not so much that he is an American, but that he is a missionary pastor who has served the most marginalized in this world and who, like Pope Francis, understands Jesus’ call to serve “the least of these.” This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every. Person. Matters. Equally. Pope Leo spoke Jesus’ very first words after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead: “Peace be with you.” He said his ministry would flow from Jesus’ message of peace. He proclaimed his desire to build bridges, not walls. He said all are children of God and all are equally loved by God. Period. THIS is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This story was shared by his brothers: Robert - Pope Leo - “played church” as a child. Guess who also did this? Yes, me. His brothers said the family’s ironing board became Pope Leo’s altar.

This a beautiful! This is what faith is all about. If you ascribe to a sacramental denomination and faith, you know the sacraments are made up of 1) an earthly element (i.e. water for Holy Baptism or wine and bread for Holy Communion), and 2) the Word and promise of God. The sacrament becomes wholly unique and holy when the Holy Word of God infuses the most basic elements of earthly life…right here on Earth. Take, for instance, an ironing board that, infused with the sacredness of faith, becomes the altar upon which God shares God’s very sacrifice and infinite love with humanity…for the forgiveness of sin, for the promise of restoration by grace, for the hope of eternal life with the God of the universe, the giver of this pure gift of free grace.

This is who will lead the Roman Catholic Church in the years ahead. This humble, down-to-earth pastor will be a spiritual beacon for the world. This Pope will serve Christ’s gospel as he has served it since he was ordained. He will proclaim Christ’s grace for all people, no exceptions. He will love the unlovable. He will serve as Christ served his disciples and a history’s worth of people.

This is a time of hope. May the whole Christian Church on earth - Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Evangelical Christianity et al - be so moved by this new Pope that we re-ignite efforts at ecumenism, shared prayer and ministry, and humble repentance over our previous divisions. May the Christian Church rise as a holy force of love and justice in this fraught and broken world. God bless Pope Leo XIV! +

Be brave. It’s in you!

Andy