Holy Father: Older People Have Unique Advantage

You may have heard on the news that Pope Francis has abandoned his pricey “sardine can”–that is, the expensive bulletproofed car (photo) that seemed to shield him from contact with the faithful who thronged to see him.  “I cannot greet the people and tell them I love them inside a sardine can, even if it is glass, for me it’s a wall,” he told a Catalonian newspaper.

    He cited his maturity (he’s only in his 70s) for giving him a form of  Ave Imperator, morituri te salutant outlook on life.  As gladiators have always known, those who are about to die can salute without abject fear.  Same with old people and all others who know that death is pending.  There’s not only a heightened existential awareness of life itself, but there’s the possibility of greater risk-taking.

     “It is true something could happen to me but let’s be realistic, at my age I do not have much to lose. It is in God’s hands,” he asserts.  Regardless, going to Heaven is a blessing for Christians, isn’t it?

     Even with the ranks of seniors growing daily around the world, there is still little evidence that older people are taking advantage of their unique advantage.  Fathers are eventually promoted to being grandfathers, but most prefer the quietness and wisdom that later years bring.