With a twinkle of stardust in the Vatican City, the reverberating echoes of 'Happy Birthday' seeping across St. Peter's Square marked the lively 87th birthday celebrations of Pope Francis. The grand event, decorated by frosted cake and giggles of children, unveiled the concluding chapter of a year where Pope Francis foot-stepped unique milestones in refurbishing the Catholic Church, while dodging health-related speed bumps that kindled questions regarding his tenure.
Amidst a confetti shower of birthday wishes, the Pope was blessed with an early present, a verdict from the Vatican tribunal - an icon of his continuous strides towards financial reforms. The tribunal wielded the sword of justice in a complicated trial involving Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the most notable defendant charged and sentenced for embezzlement.
As the years fold over, Pope Francis, always a cause for historical fascination, appears to be contemplating legacy. His age hovers him amongst the small panel of Rome's eldest leaders. So much so that he finds company with the likes of Pope Gregory XII, the penultimate Pope who bid adieu to his office. Francis too has hinted at resigning given health constraints but teetered back to believing that papacy is a lifetime commitment.
The Pope’s milestones were, however, flanked by health alarms, adding a note of trepidation to his otherwise harmonious journey. His relentless warrior spirit and the will to reform have, nevertheless, sustained him. It has given him ample courage to take the horse by the reins and redefine the inherently top-down governance - a reform project that can potentially decide his legacy.
Pope Francis’ journey also saw the passing of the former Pope, Benedict, casting off the shadow of a conservative and imparting Francis with an unchained freedom to fuel his reform exploration. With Benedict’s passing, Francis has paid heed to preliminary reform blueprints, aiming to include women in decision-making processes and creating a more inclusive church.
Reform employers such as Cardinal Victor Fernandez have left their imprints on the teachings, introducing a fresh breath of thought. Simultaneously, Francis has shown the door to conservative critics, subtly pulling the ropes of authority held by Benedict’s secretary, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, and Cardinal Raymond Burke.
As Pope Francis blows another candle on his birthday cake, he symbolizes much more than turning a year older. His journey, seasoned with trials, resilience, and unyielding ambition, reflects his evolving transformation into a figure eager to leave a reformative legacy. Perhaps the ticking of the clock and the echoes of mortality have made him contemplate the need for change. His vision of seeing the completion of the second phase of the Synod, it seems, is his current guiding northern star. The Pope indeed appears to be sailing in the sea of change.
