This American Moment (Part 1): A Surprising Pope
Reflections on current events, Enneagram understanding, and ways forward
A Note on Titling: This series focuses on my own experience as a U.S. citizen who has an American’s perspective. The events discussed, of course, are world events touching on global trends and issues of significance in what it means to be human, regardless of national borders. The reflections are centered on an American experience; the ‘moment’ belongs to all of us.
We have, for the first time in over 2,000 years, an American pope from the United States. His vocational journey would seem to make him very un-American, though, in my estimation. If America is primarily an Enneagram Three culture, then choosing the humble Augustinians as your order and identifying as a Peruvian citizen is decidedly against the Type Three grain.
I still know very little about Pope Leo XIV’s personal history. But some things do seem apparent, even after a short period of time.
His humility is palpable. Reserved, softspoken, a care for the poor and marginalized. Perhaps more outwardly accepting of traditions Pope Francis shunned, but also having a firm commitment to much of Francis’ vision and emphases. He’s publicly affirmed Francis’ tenure, even if he’s already showing his papacy will be his own.
I feel as though I’m having a small Slumdog Millionaire moment in that I’ve studied only one previous pope’s work academically, but that just happens to be the work of Pope Leo XIII (1878–1903). He was known as the “worker’s pope” because during the industrial revolution, he championed the rights of those at the bottom. But he also charted a middle way between extremes: the rights of owners and the rights of workers, unfettered capitalism and unfettered socialism. Cardinal Prevost’s choice to be known as Leo XIV is likely a nod to this predecessor. I think such a “middle way” tone in our equally tumultuous time today could be necessary. And life-giving.
As for being American, I never thought that would happen in my lifetime! Seriously—it’s a huge shock. And I can’t help but wonder what it means.
The late Cardinal Francis George of Chicago apparently once told (now-Bishop) Robert Barron that the world would never get an American pope until the U.S. was in decline and no longer the dominant political, economic, and cultural power in the world. I’d say the Church doesn’t usually have a prophetic word or farseeing eyes in our time. (If anything, they tend to lag in perspective and awareness.) But this assessment from Cardinal George rings true. And it makes me wonder if the global Church can already see what we Americans can’t.
Regardless of its meaning, the calling for those with political, economic, cultural influence is one of justice and humility. At first pass, I’m happy to say that Pope Leo XIV appears to be trying to exemplify both.
Pope Francis
It’s hard to put into words what losing Pope Francis means to me... There are a lot of feelings as a Catholic that reflect both distance and felt intimacy with a man meant to be your spiritual father. But what he showed me is what I want to dwell on.
He confounded both “liberals” and “conservatives,” which is to say he shunned a world increasingly dominated by dualistic, black/white thinking in favor of a world that was nuanced, contemplative, “both/and.” Anyone desiring to overlay their own vision of what a pope like Francis should do, should say, should be has felt at times affirmed and challenged—including me. In our tradition, this would be called “Christ-like,” as no follower in the Gospel narratives ever ‘figures it out’ or arrives at perfect holiness; they all are affirmed yet challenged; they all are invited to transformation; they all are only ever in the process of transforming.
A pope has to consider a modern world and an ancient one; millennia of tradition and an a time for innovation; how to keep what has been and allow space for what will be. In my estimation, Francis’ great gifts were holding this tension together profoundly well and inspiring the world with just how far mercy can reach. (“Even women with abortions? Even divorced Catholics? Even transgender individuals? Even people who are lost? Even other religions? Even destructive leaders?’)
He was an uncomfortable mirror for all of us—and especially American culture in our day. He cautioned all of us, American or not, against our propensity to be “indietristi”—people who are backward-looking, not out of a desire for wisdom but out of a desire for that strange combination of Comfort + Control that traditions can give us. He said, “A person who thinks only about building walls wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not a Christian.” This was in the context of the former and current American president (more on him in Part 2), but it’s a caution for the world. I think almost everyone would agree we’re in an age of wall-builders desperate to recruit each of us to their cause. And desperate to have their own walls completed—and others’ torn down.
Walls vs. Bridges
We all have within us a wall-builder waiting to go to work or, at our worst, employed working overtime. We could also call this wall-builder our “ego self” or the “false self,” though a connection with the “shadow self” is certainly there, too.
My wall-building most easily takes the form of my Enneagram type—a Type One’s need to be right, prove others wrong, reward good and punish evil, label my anger as “righteous,” and on and on. Perhaps your wall-builder latches on to your Type, too? The Two’s need to be needed by those that matter—and the callousness with which they can disregard the undeserving. The Six’s need to be secure in a world where insecurity and disorder is inherent—and their willingness to sacrifice parts of themselves and others for the sake of certainty. The Four’s need to be special and true to themselves—that can be as much about denying the authenticity of others as it is about affirming their own authentic selves.
This Eastertide, I confess I’m a died-in-the-wool wall-builder... on a slow journey of finding the courage to let go of my anger, step out over the abyss, and use my skills instead to build new bridges.
A scary thought is that “it might not work.” Some bridges—perhaps most—may never be completed. But I think Francis’ leadership wasn’t significant because of how many bridges he completed but how completely he dedicated himself to building them. Perhaps equally important as having bridges is the world’s need to see bridge-builders hard at work, showing up every day, showing up in the midst of great unrest and spiraling fear.
I know I’ll be a poor craftsman here who gets easily distracted and who needs too many breaks. But I do commit to regularly showing up. And I do think Francis’ corps of bridge-builders is larger, better, and more equipped because of who and how he was.
Samuel Ogles is the owner of ‘Formation Circle,’ a practice offering spiritual direction, Enneagram teaching, and media to empower others in personal transformation. You can support this work by subscribing to this newsletter or sharing with a friend, and you can connect with Sam or another spiritual director at FormationCircle.com.