By Peggy Sue McRae

Journal contributor

Most seniors, when reaching 69 years of age, have either retired or are seriously considering it. For Chicago-born Robert Prevost, working life just took a giant leap when he was recently elected Pope. Taking a new name for his new job, now Pope Leo XIV has become the head of the Catholic Church and the 1.4 billion souls that make up the global Catholic community.

Pope Leo has several qualities and advantages that, as a working senior, will serve him well. He is in good health, he has a positive attitude, a clear sense of purpose and he is engaged in community. Plus, he is humble. He remains modest in spite of his lofty position. A former teacher described him as a gracious man, adding that, “He will speak his mind.”

Health: The pope does cardio workouts! For two years, he has trained regularly at a gym in Rome near the Vatican. His personal trainer, Valerio Masella, had no idea that his client “Robert” was a Cardinal and was amazed upon realizing that Prevost had been named Pope. Maselle, who was impressed with the pope’s physical endurance, said of him, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard him make a comment about anything that wasn’t positive.” He also recalled, “He was a really calm and balanced person.”

Purpose: Prevost’s calling seems to have been clear to him since childhood. According to his brother John, he would set up his mother’s ironing board, put a tablecloth on it and play “Mass.” Other children played Mass too, but even as a kid, Prevost could recite the entire liturgy in Latin. As an adult, he felt called to missionary work and was sent to Peru, where for 20 years he worked in the service of poor communities.

Community: Pope Leo first went to Peru as a missionary, where for 10 years he taught while immersing himself in the local culture and community. After briefly returning to Chicago, he went back to Peru as a bishop and later archbishop. He became a naturalized Peruvian citizen, embracing local customs and fully participating in local culture. In that way, he became a beloved figure in Peru. In 2023, Pope Francis called him back to Rome. Now, as Pope, he serves the global community.

Pope Leo belongs to the order of Saint Augustine, an order dedicated to service and to helping the poor. In a world that can be upsetting and dangerous, it serves us well to have good role models. Perhaps a calm, intelligent and articulate man who champions the poor, immigrants and working people is just what this troubled world needs right now.

I am not a Catholic and am not likely to become one yet I believe anyone could benefit by observing how this nearly 70-year-old Pope approaches life. Few of us are as disciplined or driven. We are not saints. Yet even just a little bit of compassion, grace and gratitude can make our lives and our world just a little bit better.

Sources: NBC News, Vatican News, White Smoke, Catholic Review, Shalom World News.