Why the New Pope Matters—Even to a United Church Minister

 This week, the world welcomed a new Pope. And while I don’t serve in a Catholic parish, or wear a collar every day, or keep holy water on hand for pastoral emergencies—I still paused.

Because the election of a new Pope isn’t just a Roman Catholic event. It’s a moment that ripples across the entire Christian landscape. It invites all of us—regardless of denomination—to reflect on the kind of leadership the world needs right now.

The Pope is one of the most visible religious leaders on the planet. His words reach beyond sanctuaries and Vatican walls. When he speaks about peace, climate, justice, or the dignity of all people, people listen. And that matters—even to those of us serving in Protestant churches in Canada.

In a time when public trust in institutions is fragile, when compassion is too often overshadowed by division, it matters that someone in spiritual leadership steps forward with grace, humility, and a consistent reminder that we are called to love. The Pope—at his best—models what servant leadership looks like: grounded in prayer, shaped by compassion, and committed to the common good.

Of course, no one leader can be everything to everyone. The church (all of us—Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox) has its blind spots, and our history is complicated. But that’s where ecumenical ministry comes in—a word that simply means working together across denominational lines.

Next week, I’ll be heading to the Festival of Homiletics, a gathering of preachers, teachers, and pastors from across many Christian traditions. It’s a week filled with sermons, songs, conversations, and the kind of learning that happens when we share space with people who see God through slightly different lenses. And it’s always a gift.

That kind of ecumenism doesn’t flatten our differences—it honours them. It reminds us that the Body of Christ is beautifully diverse. It challenges us to listen more deeply and to lead with love, not just within our own churches, but alongside each other in public witness and shared purpose.

So yes, I care who the Pope is. Not because he’s my theological authority, but because his voice—like all our voices—matters in the work of building peace, hope, and justice in this world. And I’m hopeful that, in this new chapter, we might keep finding ways to walk together, speak truth together, and serve with the kind of compassion that Jesus lived and taught.

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