Pope Francis is already being described as an “anti-Ratzinger”, which is probably based on a serious misunderstanding of Pope Emeritus Benedict. We do obviously have to come to terms with the possibility that the Church is no longer the question of the western world. I remember Bergoglio’s candidacy at the 2005 conclave, and the idea that if the Papacy went to South America, it’s over in Europe. The Pope of 2005 was in my mind the last chance.

We Europeans will need to see things in a different way, our Christian faith and our relationships with people of all social milieux. The Church in many European countries alienated the poor and working classes a century ago, aligning itself with money, privilege and political power. Pope Francis seems to represent something else, a Jesuit priest and missionary, loved by his people and a man of prayer. I heard those words back in 2005.

Are we going to get a lot of Vatican II claptrap and vacuous talk, or the simple mysticism of a man who wants to address our suffering world? What is the Church like in Argentina or Brazil? I have never been to any of those countries. When Latin people are religious, they are very exuberant. Francis I may well be the first slum pope like the Victorian Anglican ritualist priests in London’s East End and the South Coast. Something inspired is there. Perhaps the Ordinariates will be called to a forgotten Anglican tradition of ministry to the poor and downtrodden.

South America is not the secular west, but people struggling for their lives and helped by God. Blessed are the poor in spirit… Buenos Aires today is perhaps like London a hundred years ago. It seems that a Church of the future will not be afraid of the world, or to be poor – because worldly power is not what we need. We need prayer, humility and service of our neighbour. We must take to heart the words of St John:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Lent brings us to face our own mortality and that of our loved ones. We have not to worry about our own survival but the needs of those who need. The Church has to break its contract with the secular world and its deceits. This self-sacrifice is the kenosis of Christ.

Whether we are Roman Catholics under Pope Francis or other Christians looking to his inspiration and example from some distance, we need to look to a humble, mystical and free Church. We must even be prepared to go into the night and live a long Holy Saturday, a long winter. Perhaps a Franciscan Church will find those who were passed over by the Benedictine Church!

We will see with the eyes of faith, hope and empathy with suffering humanity. At least, if we see things in a different way, we may understand the event of this evening.

That being said, many of us will form our communities of faith with older liturgical styles and spiritualities, and we may have to learn to live our faith in the catacombs. The days of triumphalism are over. How everything has changed, but God is always there.