This Welshman gives it a haunting quality. The poem is “The Leaden Echo.”

Rev. James Martin SJ pulls out the stops in thanksgiving for Pope Francis SJ.

And makes his point quite nicely.

Let us now pray that the pope’s concern for and identification with poor people is not taken as endorsement of socialistic practices. It shouldn’t be so taken. He’s too smart for that.

He’s a free man, Fr. Martin says several times. His own man, others would say. A wise man, knowing wheat from chaff. A tough guy, unbothered by mediocrities that inevitably surround the top man anywhere.

Too smart to be fooled by random acts of contempt for so-called materialism — of U.S. prosperity, for instance, of free market capitalism, which does more for poor people than any other system.

Let us pray he understands that.

Run, do not walk to yr library or wherever fine dvd’s are sold to rent or buy Moliere. Do yrself a favor. A perfect film.