I didn’t know until yesterday about a supposed story that came out of the Vatican about Pope Francis’s dog, Esteban. In fact, I was surprised to hear that he even had a dog. After all, the halls of the Vatican are used to silence, quiet whispers of prayer and the muffled steps of the Swiss Guard as they move through the buildings. Today, there is some rather severe push back about the story being generated by AI or “fake news.” While Snopes and other fact checking organizations maintain that the story is erroneous, news outlets have perpetuated the story about Pope Francis and his dog.
As the story was reported, during an evening walk some years ago in the Vatican garden, Francis ran into a wounded, neglected animal. Something in the dog’s weary eyes resonated with him and he sat down in silence. The Pope couldn’t help but be reminded of one of the most important biblical truths. That there was to be reverence for all creation and that included the marginalized creature he was seeing in front of him. Pope Francis thought of the dog as representative of the love of God and how we are to value all that He has created.
Supposedly, Francis went on to remark that every creature breathes by the will of the Creator and God’s fingerprints are over all creation. In fact, it reminded him of Eden, where God first entrusted the care of creation to humankind. It was not only an act of kindness; but a mandate that mankind was not to dominate, but to love, God’s creation. Clearly, whether the story as reported was true or not, the events are consistent with the persona and care of the marginalized that Pope Francis cared so much about. His papacy has been marked by the clear embrace of humility, choosing to live in an austere apartment rather than the papal apartments usually inhabited by the pontiff.
As the story goes, Pope Francis was deeply impacted by his first encounter with Esteban. He realized through his years of theological study that love cannot be coerced or commanded, but one must wait, in silence, present, waiting… According to Francis, it was a demonstration of the Gospel – presence over power… Those close to the Pope remarked that in the halls of power, in the midst of gold, and all that the Vatican embodied, the greatest demonstration of the Scripture was to witness an old man and a marginalized dog – drawn together by God’s love for creation. Clearly, the story seems too good to be true, but there are elements, such as the rejection of accolades, refusal to wear ostentatious jewelry and indications of high office (including wealth), that were consistent with the nature of Francis.
Francis believed that the role of the church was to accompany and not to dominate. Esteban, it is said, became the object lesson of the Gospel that demonstrated this biblical mandate in real time.
It was the Pope’s belief that we were to meet people where they are, not where we think they should be. He extended this same respect to all God’s creatures. With Esteban’s fear about trusting, the Pope waited… demonstrating that trust cannot be legislated, it must be earned through constancy and built on relationships, not rules. It almost sounds like a story that Jesus may use in His teaching, doesn’t it?
Francis went on to remark that this is way that God works with us. He doesn’t coerce us – He is there when we are ready, constantly by our side… waiting for as long as it takes. Always there, always deeply present. Those near the Pope have remarked that they witnessed Francis frequently in the garden with Esteban, watching the deepening relationship unfold, rooted in God’s love.
As Francis passed on to enter heaven, it is said that Esteban returned to the garden, the site of so many afternoons with the Pope. It was a reminder of all that they had shared – pure love, as God intended it to be. Images around the world showed Esteban standing watch over his master’s casket, perhaps generated by AI. The entire affair was a living demonstration of unbridled love – no commanding, no ordering, just silent presence as Francis had exhibited on that first occasion when they met. The Vatican, consistent with their policy on comments about the Pope, remained silent on the story.
To be sure, it really doesn’t matter whether this detail of events is true or not. It is consistent with the teachings of Jesus; and of Pope Francis. Francis, who is known to have had a love of dogs, only issued one admonishment on the subject. He said that we shouldn’t think of animals as children, or more importantly, animals are not to be confused with children, who are created in the image of God.
Tonight’s verse is a simple one that exemplified Pope Francis’s love for all God’s creation. The apostle John tells us the words of Jesus in his Gospel, in John 13:34, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.“
This verse embodies the ministry of Pope Francis throughout his life. Presence over power, staying steadfast, developing trust and companionship. My encouragement this evening is that in the Pope’s final hours, the sermon that he preached was a silent, humble one, a witness to the power of love. No pomp or circumstance… refuting the wealth of this world, committed to being close to his Lord. My prayer is that we will all renew our efforts to learn from this example to love God’s creation – not because we have to but because every creature is filled with the breath of God. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…