*(Photo: Vatican Press Office via AFP/Getty Images)*

The theological gulf which separates Francis and I is huge. Nevertheless, the more I hear about him and how he conducts himself, the more I enjoy him. I note the way he protects and guards himself from the temptations of power, and seeks to lead by an example of humility, authenticity, and simplicity.

Recently, Francis was preaching on the importance of the Catholic sacrament of penitence (rite of confession), and chose once again to live what he teaches by becoming the first pope to publicly submit himself to confession during the Eucharist.

Francis preaches that the rite of confession "is not a court of condemnation, but the experience of forgiveness and mercy!"

I'm not a Catholic but I do understand at least in part the theology and heart that informs the Catholic Church's practice of confession. I wonder how our Evangelical communities would be transformed if we were a little less confident, a little less self-assured, self-righteous really, in the certainty of our election. I wonder how much more winsome our outreach would be if, like Francis, we spent less time condemning the sins of others and more effort in being truly penitent for our own sins.

(HT: Rocco Palmo)