For Pope Francis
by Michael Doyle

Firstly, I admit I was not a big fan
Of either his station or the man
Despite this, he imprinted this century
With his words and his legacy

I'm for building bridges, but legally.
It doesn't make me less about mercy
To believe my duty is to my family
And not invaders of my country

The walls of the Vatican say it all
The spite of hypocrisy takes its fall
Still, what was the Communist's legacy
How did Francis change the papacy?

Off the cuff and blunt in his style
He offered soundbites worth the while
Buenos Aires Italian quietly rose
But was it substance or a pose?

The sands of time filled the hourglass
But there's a lot, I can't let pass
Wondering about what kind of a dent
His damage did by being irreverent

Was it just confusion or was it heresy
There was a shock and awe of controversy
In a Leftwing attempt at giving dignity
Traditional doctrine became ambiguity

Until an allowance for sin became leniency
It was a wonder he rose to the papacy
Compassion isn't about being capable
But a world of sinners doing as best able

It is not as if God's laws aren't eternal
To soften this is something infernal
A pope is allegedly God's representative
This isn't really something interpretative

The line was drawn at denying Christ's divinity
It is as though Francis skipped all of theology
Though I genuinely hope that he now finds rest
His infallibility often failed and fails the test

(c) April 21, 2025  Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved