‘Vulnerable Risk Takers’!

These few words of Pope Francis came alive for me some weeks ago when the priest at Mass quoted them.  When I think of risk taking I think about jumping out of a helicopter and hoping I will pull the right cord at the right time and the parachute will do the right thing. As I write and think about this unlikely possibility, I can feel the fear of such a risky adventure. As you see in the photo Sr. Gwen is always prepared to take a risk. Bolt (the horse) decided not to bolt on this occasion!

Putting the adjective Vulnerable before Risk seems strange to me - I think it should be ‘Mighty Risk Takers! But Pope Francis calls us to be authentic Risk Takers. It is the journey to risk speaking the truth even when we feel uncomfortable, unsure and vulnerable. To take the risk in stretching out the hand of friendship to someone with whom our relationship is fractured; to care for the weak and vulnerable, even when we are unsure how to relate to them. It is also changing our mindset and imagining the world differently and then acting on what God is calling us to be and do. And it is not always about others, I too can be weak, frail and vulnerable and in need of compassion and mercy. I am reminded of the title of a book called ‘The Wounded Healer’ and Pope Francis’ invitation to see the Church as a field hospital for sinners and for the weak and vulnerable.

Since I came across these words Vulnerable Risk Taker I have noticed how often Pope Francis uses them in his talks. You can also add fragility, weakness, compassion and mercy to his favourite words. He has taken many risks since he became Pope. But the risks come after deep prayer and discernment.  In an article by Robert Mickers in www.ncronline.org/ we read about how Pope Francis offered a clear example of his risk taking in 2016 when he stopped in Havana to meet the Russian Patriarch Kirill.

‘It was an historic event because a face-to-face meeting of the (Catholic) bishop of Rome and the Orthodox patriarch of Moscow and all Russia had never occurred before. That’s because the predecessors of these two spiritual leaders would not give up their own pre-conditions before the meeting could take place.’ (R Mickers)

But Pope Francis took the vulnerable risk of dropping all those demands. He just told Patriarch Kirill he would meet him whenever and wherever the Orthodox leader desired. "Let's just meet" was his plea.

‘Francis allowed the patriarch to dictate the terms. Political analysts said it was yet another example of him being a "risk-taker" (a calculating one at that!), similar to his decision to visit Central African Republic when a civil war was still underway.’

With all that has happened since with the war in Ukraine we can only pray that the Patriarch Kirill will remember Pope Francis invitation to meet as Risk Takers but most of all as two Spiritual Leaders in order to find ways to bring peace to a very disturbing situation for all sides and our world.