Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
 

March 13, 2015 marked the second anniversary of the election of Pope Francis. In the two years of his pontificate, this humble cardinal from Argentina has brought an air of spontaneity to the Vatican – rarely, if ever – seen. His off-the-cuff remarks display a humanity that can be both troubling and endearing.

I say troubling because, if you are part of the staff that must reconcile the remarks with the perception of the Catholic faithful and general public, it’s not a comfortable position to be in, as you are caught off guard. So, I imagine a lot of scrambling has been going on behind the scenes. However, I also say endearing because it often reflects the ambiguity or puzzlement that all of us encounter when faced with problems that demand navigating through channels that are not always black and white.

With all the controversial issues Pope Francis has been willing to comment on, there was a particular area that connected him to his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi. He said that heaven is open to all of God’s creations. Reporters falsely attributed to Pope Francis an additional statement made by Pope Paul VI, when he assured a distraught boy that his pet dog will with be with him in heaven. Now, obviously that was papal opinion and not necessarily de fide (a matter of faith). But, it is reassuring that both Pope Paul VI and Pope Francis offered that bit of consolation. I know that when this statement was mistakenly attributed to Pope Francis, a woman declared him the greatest pope ever – she had recently suffered the death of her precious pet.

My own family always had a pet dog – sometimes two at a time! Their names were Blackie, Bobo, Buzzi, Buster, Betsy and Buddy (it seems that my family was obsessed with names starting with the letter B). Each dog had different characteristics and traits but they were all part of the family. It’s interesting how pets can become such an attachment to all of us emotionally; there is no doubt about the pain experienced at their loss. My sister and I still share stories about their various exploits and you wouldn’t know we were talking about beings that had four legs and tails.

Our pets were as important and singularly as impressive to our family as Rin Tin Tin and Lassie, two famous TV and movie canine stars. Our pets belonged to us and shared our life’s experiences.

A favorite author of mine is Dean Koontz. His books often deal with the genre of the macabre. A talented and gifted author, I often detect a Catholic spirit in many of his works. But, one work which I recommend to all dog lovers is “A Big Little Life.” It’s a wonderful read. I offer you this quote from the jacket of his book:

“She arrived with her name Trixie. I joked sometimes that it sounded more like a stripper than a dog. They told us we could change it and that she could quickly be taught to answer to a new name. But if it sounded more like a stripper than a dog, it sounded more like an elf or fairy than a stripper. Elves and fairies are magical beings, and so was she.”

Heaven is a place where we are all perfectly happy. If that happiness includes our pets, than rest assured God will not deny us total happiness. Pope Francis, in honor of your second anniversary, thank you for your pastor’s heart.

Today, March 17, is St. Patrick’s Day. As archbishop, I give thanks for the great faith of the Irish who have so courageously contributed to the faith, saints, missionaries and strong families. Today, everyone is Irish, so please, when you see the buttons stating, “Kiss Me I’m Irish,” be generous in your response. Remember, Jesus taught us to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Note: This blog originally appeared as the March 17, 2015 "Love One Another" email sent to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki. If you are interested in signing up for these email messages, please click here.