White smoke and renewed hope

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Editor:

As I came into the house on Wednesday and turned on the television, the white smoke was just coming out. So for the past couple of days, I have watched Pope Francis, both in words and deeds, exude a calm presence of confidence and joy, especially this morning as he greeted each of the cardinals with an embrace of warmth and solidarity. Therefore, I have great hope for the future of the Catholic Church. He faces many challenges, and new opportunities, especially in listening to the prophetic voices of women, and their inclusion in roles much deeper in the Spirit of Jesus and the ways Jesus included women in his life. We pray that Pope Francis will  have the courage to make the changes necessary so the  church can bring about the reforms to give full meaning to the word “Catholic” of being One, True, Holy and Apostolic. If so, we will see our brothers and sisters return in body, mind and spirit and feel the warm embrace as did the Prodigal Son.

Jack Callahan

Cherry Hill