We expected more. And why not? Over the course of his still-young papacy, Francis has demonstrated wonderful courage attempting to join Jesus on the world's dangerous waves.
He's adopted a comparatively simple lifestyle.
He's condemned neo-liberalism and growing income inequality.
His apostolic exhortation, "The Joy of the Gospel" implicitly endorsed the liberation theology his two immediate predecessors had tried to kill.
More specifically, he adopted liberation theology's "preferential option for the poor" as the leitmotif of his papacy.
In that spirit, his famous "Who am I to judge" gave hope to the LGBTQ community.
He helped head off the dangerous Mr. Obama's plans to bomb Syria.
That last precedent led some of us to expect more in the context of Gaza. I was in St. Peter's Square for Francis' hours-long vigil for peace. There the Pope did as much or more to head off U.S.' insane plans to bomb Syria as did Russia's President Putin. Along with Putin, Francis was the hero who subverted the monstrous plans of Obama and his State Department.
But there was no peace vigil for the Gazans. Instead two weeks ago the Pope broke down in tears as he delivered his Sunday remarks from the balcony over St. Peter's Square. He said:
"Never war, never war! I am thinking, above all, of children who are deprived of the hope of a worthwhile life, a future. Dead children, wounded children, mutilated children, orphaned children, children whose toys are things left over from war, children who don't know how to smile." This was the moment when the tears came. "Please stop," said Francis . "I ask you with all my heart, it's time to stop. Stop, please!"
The words were powerful; the tears were powerful. But unlike the prayer vigil before a potential Syrian fiasco, they remained largely unreported. Nevertheless, for those with ears to hear, the Pope was lamenting Israel's killing of Palestine's innocent. (No Jewish children have been killed during the Gaza massacre.) However, to overcome the Media's deafening pro-Israel tilt, the Pope needed to be stronger and more specific.
But what more can the pope do? What sort of miracle might we expect?
Well, he could give courage to all of us who are far less daring than he; he could perform a miracle more stupendous than actually "walking on water" by:
Owning the fact that as the leader of 1.2 billion Catholics, with far more power than Jesus had, he was truly able to end Gaza's slaughter.
Announcing plans to travel to Gaza in the midst of Israel's monstrous campaign.
Before leaving, specifically naming Israel's assault on civilians as sinful.
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