Gandhi once said, “Those who believe that religion and politics aren’t connected don’t understand either.”
Put another way, as in the case of America, and its citizens, I feel what states it ever more definitively is Mark 8:36, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul.”
Over a period of just six days, on his first trip to the United States, that’s exactly what Pope Francis managed to accomplished during his visits. Those visits entailed going from the White House to Philadelphia’s largest jail.
In other words, the pope came to look into the face of America. NOT just the pretty ones, but the ones – souls – who are struggling on a daily basis to find their own sense of dignity.
And, in the midst of those six days, he, reportedly, had at least two “behind-closed-sessions” with the American Catholic Bishops, as he should have. We are led to believe that Francis made it explicitly clear to the bishops that a) they are to be pastors, and to get into each of their respective community personally and spread the Word; and, b) they will be held directly responsible for the protection of the children of the Catholic Church, proper vetting of all parish priests, and that there shall NOT be any further abuses of the young within the church.
Back in 1965, when I was a junior in college, Pope Paul VI became the first pope to visit America. It almost seems inconceivable, but America did NOT have formal diplomatic relations with the Vatican at the time. That was just fifty years ago!
The church in America is in serious trouble at the moment. Since 2008, when Benedict XVI was the last pontiff to visit the United States, there are some 3 million fewer practicing Catholic adults in the pews across the country on any given Saturday night, or Sunday morning attending Mass.
Since the thirteenth of March, 2013, when Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected the Vicar of Christ, Francis has taken to task the world’s superpowers, especially the United States of America, for the sins of materialism and hubris.
If any one of us is truly objective about the pope’s comment(s), we have to admit he’s hit NOT only the nerve of America – for which many are bothered – but, the pontiff has hit the bulls-eye as regards American society.
Having said that, let me quickly say that the pope was NOT a righteous prophet during his visit at all, if he was anything, Francis displayed himself as a pastor. He showed the greatness of his ‘human touch’ at every stop – the shepherd – reaching and tending to his flock, which the church desperately is in need of, at this time.
It must be said that the age of authority was demonstrated to be far less effective by the pontiff’s words of persuasion at every stop as well.
Everywhere he visited, at some point, Francis asked his audience to “Please pray for me.” Indescribable humility!
While seeking to uphold the ‘dogma of the church’ without the appearance of being dogmatic about it, Pope Francis cites the power of the Holy Spirit when he talks about the importance of service to others, and the adherence of the written word of God (church dogma).
With his commitment to church doctrine, he disappointed some who yearn for reform to suit their specific concern, need or behavior.
The result for many American Catholics – both liberal and conservative – was a sense of renewal and possibility, buffered by questions of whether Francis, and his welcoming rhetoric, would be enough to bridge serious divisions as a very traditional church struggles to find its place in a disillusioned American society.
Personally, I think it’s fair to say, as a faithful and practicing Catholic, most such “serious divisions” are man-made.
Salvation isn’t suppose to work that way…
Lobster on the Prairie 