I Am a Good Samaritan Christian — The Pope Certainly Does NOT Speak for Me
- john raymond
- Mar 26
- 2 min read
I was raised Catholic. I know the rhythm of Mass, the scent of incense in a quiet chapel, the solemn beauty of ancient rites. But I am no longer a Catholic.
Today, I am something else: a Good Samaritan Christian.
What that means is simple. I do not seek God in the figure of the Father, nor in the form of the Son. I seek the spirit of goodness which they are meant to embody — and nothing more.
It is that spirit that drives my faith, my hope, and my understanding of what it means to be Christian. And it is with that clarity that I must say: the Pope does not speak for me.
A Man of Power, Not of the People
The Pope is still a man concerned with image — projecting strength instead of humility. He is an old man, his health failing, like so many of the faithful who look to him for solace in their own decline. And yet, in his suffering, he chose to hide.
He shielded his pain. He protected his public image. He maintained the illusion of control.
And in doing so, he betrayed the elderly and the sick — the men and women who suffer in silence, who needed to see that even the Holy Father struggles, and still finds meaning in the struggle.
Leadership Is Not in Titles, but in Acts
When he could have shared his burden to give others hope, he chose instead to preserve the hierarchy. To preserve the bricks and chains of command that make up the Vatican — but not the Church.
Because the Church is the people. Not its gold. Not its authority. Not its rituals.
The True Example: The Good Samaritan
If you want to know what it means to lead, to love, to live as a Christian — look not to the Pope. Look to the story of the Good Samaritan. Look to the wretch left for dead by the roadside. Look to the stranger who lifted him, fed him, sheltered him, and asked nothing in return.
That is the spirit. That is the meaning of Christianity. That is the true Church.
So while I wish the Pope healing and peace, and I also hope he lives longer than any who came before him, I do not look to him for guidance. And neither should you.
Look to the broken man who was helped. Look to the helper who had no title. There lies your compass. There lies the true meaning of Christian faith.
In spirit. In kindness. In love.
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