by Nancy Linenkugel
Contributor
The numbers were all there from the beginning: Pope Francis became pope in the third month on the 13th day of the 13th year of the new millennium. That's an easy date to remember: 3/13/13. Number fanciers looking for significance might add the digits together (3 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 3) to get 11, then add those digits together (1+1) to get 2. The number 2 stands for pairs, like positive and negative. It also symbolizes a partnership. In math 2 is the first and the smallest prime number. Due to the feminine shape of 2 compared to the masculine 1, a 2 signals patience, grace and style.
Pope Francis, who celebrates his third anniversary on March 13, 2016, is all of those attributes above. He has consistently emphasized relationships and partnerships — with each other, with Earth, and with Jesus' message of love and mercy. His philosophy of inclusion, his eschewing pomp and riches, and his singular way to show us how to live and not just preach incontrovertibly show his priorities.
Our world and our Catholic church have been crying out for attention. Pope Francis by his example lets us know that it's okay to demonstrate love for other people, it's the spirit more than the letter of a law that matters, and God is so merciful that how could we want to be otherwise ourselves?
On this third anniversary of his pontificate we thank God for sending us such a compassionate, inspired, and inspiring leader of our church. You impact each of us more than you will ever know.
[Nancy Linenkugel is a Sylvania Franciscan sister and chair of the department of Health Services Administration at Xavier University, Cincinnati Ohio.]