Except for all those with their laptops, TV’s, and portable electronic devices turned off last week, we were well aware of Pope Francis interacting with leaders and little ones, for the first time on American soil. From DC to NYC to his departure this night from Philadelphia, the Pope has called the people to something. That’s what’s fascinating — how we summarize that “something.”
People pounce on what they want to. They summarize the Pope’s message — characterizing and crafting the Pope’s exhortation in unique, albeit limited ways. Note the specific characterizations and summaries in recent days…
The editorial board of the NY Times laid out what they called, the Pope’s “challenge to America” — saying American leaders “must never forget the nation’s own roots of tolerance and equal justice.” They said Pope Francis called for “rational and just treatment of refugees here and abroad” in a veiled “rebuke” to some of the “ugly diatribes” amid the current presidential campaign.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the Pope is “urging us to make the changes we need to protect our earth, and to treat all people with compassion and dignity,” entitling his CNN editorial “the moral call for equality.”
Reuters led a report with Pope Francis’ call for “world leaders to do more to combat climate change.”
Laurie Goodstein, also of the NY Times, said, “Francis on Friday called on the hundreds of leaders from the world’s religions who surrounded him to be a ‘force for reconciliation.’ ”
And still more from the articulate Times headlined their summary of the Pope’s message as a call “for peace and environmental justice.”
Not to be out articulated by the more issue-oriented angles, the Intramuralist also read the following politicized headlines:
- “The Pope’s Progressive Call to Action”
- “Pope Francis’ Speech Is a Win for Progressives”
- “Pope Francis Calls Out the ‘Industry of Death’ ”
- “The Patron Saint of the Left”
- (And, perhaps shocking to some) “Top Signs Pope Francis is an Honest Conservative”
What I observe is a desire to politicize the Pope’s message. Granted, Pope Francis has invited much of the deliberation, as he has publicly articulated various political positions. But let’s acknowledge what’s missing from each of the above characterizations. ..
Pope Francis serves as the 266th and current Pope of the Catholic Church. The worldwide Catholic Church teaches that it was founded by Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the foundation of what the Roman Catholic Church believes.
What’s missing in each of the above editorials?
Any mention of Jesus.
While there’s much to like and discuss in the editorialized calls for justice, compassion, dignity, reconciliation, and peace, if Jesus is omitted from the conversation, then my sense is that we are not summarizing the Pope’s message accurately; we are crafting characterizations based more on our desired perspective than on the Pope’s actual words. We are politicizing something that should not be politicized.
Note that in New York, the Pope called on people to spread the Word of God; he urged listeners to be faithful, holding onto the hope God provides. He also, when first arriving, encouraged clergy to walk humbly with their God — all messages consistent with scripture.
Pope Francis believes that the kingdom he serves is not “of this world.” He believes in Jesus, and his belief propels his perspective. Sometimes we forget that. We conveniently omit it, too.
Respectfully…
AR