He lifted up the lowly...

There were the great people of the Earth at Pope Francis’ funeral. Crowned heads, men and women of government, representatives of states and kingdoms. The smallest state in the world became the center of the planet. The man without crown, without throne, without armies is honored by the powerful. The words of Mary in the Magnificat come true: “He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.”

Francis draws to himself those who command, those who flex their muscles, those who aspire to impose, those who dream of greatness. It is they who recognize—maybe just out of convenience—the moral greatness of the successor of Peter. Whether they believe it or not, they are turning their eyes to the man who in recent years has been a voice for those who care about the common good; he has been the critical conscience of political choices; he has been an example of humanity and mercy.

In the end, a man’s greatness is not measured by the power he wielded but by the humanity he lived. And Pope Francis was a master of this.

Photo credit: Vatican Media/SIR