Bragging is not a pretty activity.  People with any sense try to avoid it. Those who indulge in it usually find themselves losing friends quickly.

The young people I know do not seem particularly boastful. After all, they do not yet have much to brag about.

Perhaps they save their bragging for Facebook. But they do not subject me to it.

Bragging certainly does not suit us elders.  Most of my age peers have the wisdom not to raise their own flag. 

They can get away with boasting about their grandchildren, of course.  But not everyone finds that entertaining.

Let this minor philosophizing serve as an introduction to a bit of boasting on my part.  Please get ready to forgive this breach of good manners.

In a column published on the last day of February, I looked toward the election of a new pope.  That event would not come till two weeks later.

Virtually all of the so-called Vaticanistas failed to predict which cardinal would be chosen. Distinguished journalists and other observers who like to speculate on church affairs simply missed calling this one right.

But I did get it right, at least for the most part.  Here’s what I wrote: “My own choice is a charismatic cardinal from South America, full of concern for the poor, and ready to bring about radical change in the church.”

As it turned out, the cardinal who was elected, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, comes from Argentina, is an eloquent and compelling advocate for the poor, and shows signs of bringing notable changes to the church.

In his first few months the new pope, Francis I, has done splendidly.  At least, most people would say so.  Both Catholics, and those of other faiths are giving him high marks.

He gets this praise for such actions as visiting young prisoners in a Roman jail on Holy Thursday and washing the feet of twelve young men and women.

Weeks later, he traveled to Lampedusa, a small island off the southern coast of Italy. There he greeted poverty-stricken immigrants who had survived the risky passage from Africa, and he deplored the world’s indifference to people like them.

More recently, he broke precedent by speaking informally with the journalists  flying back with him to Rome from Brazil. One newspaper writer asked him about gay men in the priesthood.

Francis’s response was to say that gay priests “should not be marginalized.” Speaking about these clergy, he also said: “Who am I to judge?”

Both answers have made a strong impact on many people. For him to use the word “gay” seems to be a first for a pope.  And acceptance of priests who are homosexual comes as a notable change in Vatican policy.

Thus, Francis shows himself humble enough not to make facile judgments about the lives of others. But he does speak out about those who continue to crush the impoverished people of the world.

This elder, now 76 years old, will probably serve as pope for a relatively short time. In that span can he make the radical changes the Catholic Church needs?

Like many of my age peers, I remember with joy what John XXIII accomplished in the five years of his papacy. Against strong opposition, he brought the bishops of the church from all over the world to Rome for the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965).

Those meetings led to changes of vital importance.  Not only did the Mass become celebrated in the languages of each country. More significant still, the church officially recognized freedom of conscience and the value of other religions.

It also recognized and welcomed its special bonds with Jewish people.

Perhaps Francis can lead the church in making different changes of similar scope.