It’s Sad How Awesome Pope Francis Is

It’s Sad How Awesome Pope Francis Is

August 14, 2013 by

Since Jorge Mario Bergoglio ascended to the head of the worldwide Catholic church earlier this year and became Pope Francis, he’s been garnering loads of positive headlines:

Even if you’re not Catholic it’s encouraging to see the world’s most prominent spokesperson for Christianity getting good headlines.

People are smitten with the pope. He’s leaving behind the flashy trappings of the papacy and embracing a simpler, humbler life. When he talks about inclusion and outreach people sit up and notice. He’s even embracing the poor and downtrodden in his actions, supporting the poor, inviting the homeless to dinner and washing the feet of detainees.

The pope is actually reminding people of… Jesus.

I think that’s all kind of sad.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m loving Pope Francis. What I’m not loving is how surprising it is that the most prominent Christian in the world is acting like Jesus.

This should be standard operating procedure for every pope, bishop, pastor and priest. It should be common among everyone who sits in a pew on Sunday. Unfortunately it’s not.

You want to know how to do a better job marketing your church? I think Pope Francis is living it right now.

AFP PHOTO / EVARISTO SA
Post By:

Kevin D. Hendricks


When Kevin isn't busy as the editor of Church Marketing Sucks, he runs his own writing and editing company, Monkey Outta Nowhere. Kevin has been blogging since 1998, runs the hyperlocal site West St. Paul Reader, and has published several books, including 137 Books in One Year: How to Fall in Love With Reading, The Stephanies and all of our church communication books.
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5 Responses to “It’s Sad How Awesome Pope Francis Is”

  • Mike Brewer
    August 15, 2013

    Marketing? Really? Is the Pope trying out a old way so as to better market his product, the Catholic Church? When “living it” and “Marketing it” are synonymous or in any way co dependent we should just call the professional fund raisers to love our neighbors for us.


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    • Kevin D. Hendricks
      August 15, 2013

      No one is accusing Pope Francis of doing all of this as a marketing act. That would be stupid. That would be one of the ways that we mean church marketing sucks.


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  • Katie
    August 15, 2013

    As someone who’d been paying close attention to the three popes of my adult life – what strikes me is the question of personality a leader’s/ pope’s impact. John Paul II – gregarious, extroverted and dramatic had a dynamic impact on the children/teens and adults of the Catholic Church for 25 years. And I think he played a strong role on the world stage – but a lot of what he had to say was about contemporary cultural hazards, the dangers of secular humanism, Marxism, materialism. Benedict XVI – shy, scholarly, and systematic in his theological brilliance was less accessible – but also loved by those who paid attention to his writing and initiatives. Now onto the world stage comes a pastor. JPII was an expert in a philosophical school called “personalism” but Francis is PERSONAL. And he brings the perspective of the individual challenges in following Jesus to everything he says and does. He doesn’t allow himself to be managed by his handlers – and the crowd goes wild. A meme in the Catholic blogosphere offers a series of great quotes from “the pope”, quotes that the reader will think are our new Pope Francis in all of his populist and personalized appeal – and they are actually quotes from Benedict.


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  • Dave Shrein
    August 17, 2013

    Agreed. His behavior is forcing me to look at my own life because it means ill have to change. I say that as someone who has some favorite comforts that can become sin and though I know I must change, it isn’t easy. Having a good example from the “most prominent Christian” is really something awesome!


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  • Angelique
    November 14, 2013

    Wow! This brought tears to my eyes. All over board emotions aside, you make an incredible point. One I have been working on trying to make for a long time. Let’s just love people no matter how they treat us or what they say. Let’s just tell the truth about our Savior no matter the cost. The cost is high to cause it means radially changing our lives forever. Thank you Kevin!!!


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