With the exciting news that Pope Francis may very well be visiting our region when the Archdiocese of Philadelphia hosts the World Meeting of Families in 2015, an interesting thought occurred to me. I remembered reading his meditative reflection on the Book of Revelation in his book “Open Mind, Faithful Heart.” And so, while of course the biblical text refers to the ancient city in present-day Turkey and not the one on the Delaware River, I still thought it might be both fun and instructive to read Francis’ comments on that church in Philadelphia in light of this potential upcoming trip to the modern one.
What does Francis then say about this “city of brotherly love”?
Some background may be in order. The book of Revelation, in its listing of seven ancient churches in Asia Minor, includes the following passage: “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘These are the words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David. What he opens no one can shut and what he shuts no one can open…. Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon…. I will write on you the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down from my God out of heaven, and I will also write on you my own new name.'”
Francis points out that the tone of this letter encapsulates the theme of consolation which permeates the entire Apocalypse. It is triumphant and victorious in its imagery, where Christ’s reign is coming to be permanently established for eternity.
Unlike some of the other local churches mentioned in John’s vision on Patmos (Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, etc.), the community in Philadelphia has “kept the faith.”
Francis says “What is absolute is love among sisters and brothers [the root words of Philadelphia in Greek – philos “love” and adelphos “brother”], the apex of charity, and the Lord blesses it with every prize.”
This steadfast faithfulness to the divine was likely in the fore of the Quaker William Penn’s mind when he decided to give the New World city the name honoring this biblical passage, albeit in the hopes that anyone could worship freely there.
The pope points out “Philadelphia is a model of apostolic joy and success among the seven churches to whom John writes.” Despite temptations, the church in the text has not wavered, and so on the Last Day, the entire world has a relationship with her (the pope maintains the tradition of referring to the church, both local and universal, in the feminine) – “No one can remain neutral in regard to Philadelphia: whoever fails to love her and follow her will end up envying her. The Lord is with her -who will condemn her? She has her faults and has committed sins, but the Lord doesn’t even bother to name them.”
The modern Archdiocese of Philadelphia claims in its mission statement that the local church there is committed to “serve all our sisters and brothers, particularly the poor and needy, by generous acts of charity and by working together with all people of good will for justice and peace.”
This goal is very much in line with Francis’ plea to live in faith and solidarity with the marginalized, so as to experience with greater vigor the triumph of the eschatological elect, as prophesied in the Book of Revelation’s description of her namesake.
Michael M. Canaris, Ph.D., of Collingswood, is a Research Associate at Durham University’s Centre for Catholic Studies in Northeast England.
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”