While in the United States, Pope Francis exercised his prophetic office by comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable, but he did it with a soft and respectful voice. His email address is treesesj@ncronline.org. Nor did Francis hold his fire on environmental issues, which he brought up at the White House, Congress and the United Nations. That Pope Francis loves the American people was clear in every encounter he had with individuals or crowds of people. But Francis immediately pivoted and declared that this conviction had led him to advocate “the global abolition of the death penalty” and said “that a just and necessary punishment must never exclude the dimension of hope and the goal of rehabilitation.”. Although he was talking about world divisions, his words also could apply to partisan divisions in our country. Fourth, Pope Francis can speak … Before his arrival, some of his critics said that he hated America and didn’t understand it, he was going to lecture Congress, he only talked about the poor and the rich and not working people, and he did not recognize that capitalism had brought millions of people out of poverty.

Congress applauded these words, but since the United States is the largest arms seller in the world, it is unlikely to do much about it. Editor's note: We can send you an email alert every time Thomas Reese's column, Faith and Justice, is posted. Go to this page and follow directions: Email alert sign-up.

The fight against poverty and hunger must be fought constantly and on many fronts, especially in its causes.”, Knowing his audience, he spoke with a softer voice than he has elsewhere. "Our response must instead be one of hope and healing, of peace and justice." ", Some of his strongest words to Congress were in defense of immigrants. It is hoped that people will be moved by his words and actions, but there is a danger that our partisan biases will filter out what we do not like. : Become a Member Today! Enter your email address to receive free newsletters from NCR. He urged Congress to courageous and responsible action “to avert the most serious effects of the environmental deterioration caused by human activity,” which could not have pleased climate change skeptics. Whatever the case, he has put these issues on the national and world agenda so that they have to be discussed. Pope Francis challenged Congress and the American people on immigration, refugees, poverty, and the environment, but rather than scolding us, …

Playing on the opening words of the U.S. Constitution, he said to Congress, “We, the people of this continent, are not afraid of foreigners, because most of us were once foreigners.”, He personalized this by mentioning that he himself is the son of immigrants and pointing out that “you are also descended from immigrants.”, He also spoke of refugee crisis, not just in Europe, but also the thousands of persons who on this continent “travel north in search of a better life for themselves and for their loved ones, in search of greater opportunities.”, He made no distinction between political and economic refugees, but rather asked, “Is this not what we want for our children?” Despite the great numbers, he asked that we “view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation.”, To much applause, he quoted the Golden Rule to Congress: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” For Francis, the lesson is clear: “Let us treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated. “This has required, and requires, courage and daring, which is not the same as irresponsibility.

Pope Francis challenged Congress and the American people on immigration, refugees, poverty, and the environment, but rather than scolding us, he urged us to fulfill our highest ideals and values as a nation. Before Congress, he condemned polarization which divides the world into good and evil. In his words to the group, the Pope spoke about the formation of good confessors, focusing on three characteristics which should guide their work.

"To imitate the hatred and violence of tyrants and murderers is the best way to take their place," he said. “Now is the time for courageous actions and strategies, aimed at implementing a culture of care and an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature.” At the White House, he went so far as to practically endorse President Obama’s “initiative for reducing air pollution.”, Francis emphasized “that climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation.” And at the United Nations he stressed that any harm done to the environment is harm done to humanity.

There was no talk of the "unfettered pursuit of money" being the "dung of the devil," but he still made his points clearly. Man can “use creation for the good of his fellow men and for the glory of the Creator; he is not authorized to abuse it, much less to destroy it.”, Some of the pope’s most inflammatory words were directed toward the arms trade, which sells “deadly weapons … to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society.” This is being done “simply for money: money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood.

Will You Support NCR This Election Season? Let us help others to grow, as we would like to be helped ourselves.”, He continued to hammer home the implications of the Golden Rule: “if we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities. For example, those who would never listen to Al Gore, Hilary Clinton, or Barack Obama on climate change, may be willing to listen to Pope Francis.

Pope Francis: three characteristics of a good confessor (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met on Friday with participants at an annual course on the internal forum, organized by the Apostolic Penitentiary. (CNS photo/Paul Haring).

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