Why Francis favors reality over ideas
You don’t normally see the names Pope Francis and Robin Williams in the same sentence, but here goes.
Early in his career, the brilliant comedian and actor Robin Williams scored big with a performance called Reality—What a Concept. This wonderful play on words came to mind when I heard a few lines from one of Pope Francis’ talks during his visit to the Philippines earlier this year. They gained little attention, but are critical to understanding how he wants to enliven the church and the world. “Reality,” he told a large group of young people, “is superior to ideas.”
The pope’s insights were sparked by a formerly homeless girl, Glyzelle Palomar, who broke down in tears as she asked him, “Why is God allowing such things to happen, even if it is not the fault of the children?” The pope initially had no answer except to hug her. Glyzelle “is the only one who has put a question for which there is no answer,” he told the crowd. “She couldn’t put it into words but expressed it with tears.” The heartbreaking, painfully honest scene was played many times, but what was missed was what Pope Francis then made of that moment.
