The Pope’s White Horse
“Then I saw the heavens opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider was called ‘Faithful and True.’” These words from Revelation 19:11 present the image of Christ on a white horse as He comes to judge the world at the end of time for the complete devastation of evil. They seem to have taken on a special meeting recently when our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, was gifted a beautiful purebred Arabian white horse. However, the purpose of the gift was not in any way to draw a parallel to the Scripture verse. The gift was made because Pope Leo loves horses, as is evident from the time of his days when he was a missionary in Peru and used to ride a horse as a means of transportation. The horse given to the pope is white because the pope dresses in white. Nevertheless, the parallel of the pope to Christ as His vicar on earth and to his being “faithful and true” certainly are very fitting.
The man, Andrzej Michalski, who gifted the horse to the pope is from Poland and runs a stud farm there. The farm is not only a place for horse breeding, training and competitions, but also a place for therapy to assist people through the rhythmic movement of horses to engage the sensory and cognitive systems of people with disabilities. The particular farm that Mr. Michalski operates is especially a blessing for young people with physical disabilities. He stated, “Our center organizes major equestrian competitions and hippotherapy for people with disabilities; we hold sessions two or three times a week. We are now preparing to organize a small Polish championship next month — for children with disabilities riding wooden horses.”
Mr. Michalski’s gift of the horse, who is named Proton, was inspired by the pope’s recent apostolic exhortation, Dilexi te. In a letter presented to the pope on the gifting of Proton, he stated, “I would like to ask that my gesture may contribute to the realization of the missions that your Holiness undertakes for today’s world and for the Church, in keeping with your care and responsibility.” He verbally expressed to Pope Leo that he was inspired by the photo of the pope on horseback in Peru. It was obvious to Mr. Michalski that the pope loved horses. Mr. Michalski himself actually bred Proton.
The beauty and sincerity of the gift are signs of the goodness of the donor and his deep respect for the Holy Father, as well as his love for God’s creation and all people made in the image and likeness of God. The pope was very moved by the gift of Proton, and it was obvious from the pictures and videos that were taken on the occasion that the Holy Father truly loves the horse and will use him. As Mr. Michalski remarked, “The pope was very happy; we led the horse together. He was delighted and we were overjoyed.” Proton was sent to the fields of the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo and immediately happily galloped around. Mr. Michalski indicated that he wanted to go with the pope sometime to actually see him ride the horse at Castel Gandolfo.
One of the things that was so moving on the occasion of the gifting of the horse to the Holy Father was the joy that radiated from his heart, so evident in the smile present on his face. Pope Leo is a man of great transparency, and the transparency reveals itself in his personal gestures and in the warm smile that seems to be always on his face as he greets people. He is a man of intense joy, which has always been a part of his priestly ministry and is now evident in his ministry as the chief shepherd of the Church. His joy is based on his relationship with the Lord, and not on anything internal to himself. We have seen him accepting baseball caps, a white motorcycle, a white papal vehicle and many other gifts, but none seem to have sparked the joy in him that his horse, Proton, did.
Pope Leo tries to spend time once a week at Castel Gandolfo. The “day off for every Holy Father” has been Tuesday, and this seems to be the case with Pope Leo as well. A day off for the pope is simply being in a different setting from the Vatican and bringing his work and commitments there. We have seen Pope Leo meet with different visitors when he stays at Castel Gandolfo, including heads of state. His ability to accept a change of pace is another sign of his transparency and humanity, which respects the biblical image of God resting on the seventh day after His creation.
It is not at all unusual to think of Pope Leo XIV growing up in Chicago, watching the weekly series the Lone Ranger with his brothers on his black and white TV at home. The Lone Ranger was one who single-handedly fought evil and stood for goodness. He was a hero of so many, both young and old, of the United States precisely because of his goodness and willingness to sacrifice himself for others. The Lone Ranger rode on a white horse that was named Silver and was sped forward by the ranger’s command, Hi – yo Silver! Away! As a man of our culture, I have no doubt that Proton may remind the pope of Silver, but that is where the analogy ends. The pope is a man of the Church and not a Lone Ranger. He lives with and for the Church in the spirit of synodality, relying on Christ as our head with all of the members of His body. While it is good for us to have heroes, the true hero who will never disappoint is Christ, the “faithful and true” one riding on the white horse in the Book of Revelation. He became one of us in His humanity that we might share in His divinity. He came to judge us but with love and mercy, giving His life on the throne of the cross.
We are very blessed with the papacy of Pope Leo XIV, as we have been blessed with the popes who preceded him. They all have their own personalities, talents and manner of doing things. But all of them are examples of living their office as the Vicar of Christ in a manner that makes a difference to the whole world. Pope Leo, riding on his white horse, will be a fitting reminder of the image of Christ on the white horse in the Book of Revelation. May we continue to experience the joy that he exudes. May our world, so much in need of healing in every way, experience the true joy which only the message of Christ can give.
Hi – yo Proton! Away!
Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito
