Francis is pushing for long-needed changes but is facing a great deal of criticism within the church’s walls Pope Francis is perhaps the most loved and respected world leader, particularly in the global south. That love and respect were again demonstrated on his visit to two of the world’s most troubled countries, the Democratic Republic…
If you’ve a long memory and a thing for American politics, the Vatican’s recent anti-Trump intervention may have rung a bell
If you’ve a long memory and a thing for American politics, the Vatican’s recent anti-Trump intervention may have rung a bell. Once upon a time, the loyalties of Roman Catholics were deemed suspect, and savvy churchmen learned to be wary of overt partisan involvement lest the fire be inadvertently stoked. Pope Francis seems to have…
The Christian obligation to support the underdog is a biblical imperative that goes back to the ancient Israelites
The international media was recently abuzz with a “feud” between Pope Francis and Donald Trump. The attention-grabbing headlines made for some entertainment while shining a spotlight on Christianity and politics in the United States. On the papal plane flying home from Mexico, reporters asked Francis about Trump’s plans to deport illegal immigrants and build a…
Politicians, sadly, are only accustomed to the smell of their own party faithful
Politicians would love to have the approval ratings of Pope Francis. His popularity crosses party lines and spills over the borders of the tiny state he heads. The spiritual leader of the Catholic Church may be the most influential and galvanizing leader on the world stage. But leadership traits alone cannot fully explain the Francis…
Those countries with relatively free markets have made the greatest gains in environmental quality over the past half century
As pretty much everyone in the world knows by now, Pope Francis published an encyclical recently On Care for Our Common Home, which discusses all things environmental – climate change, of course, but also air pollution, water pollution, sustainable development, the precautionary principle . . . the list goes on through 184-pages. Unfortunately, while the…
Francis is not asking any more of his cardinals, or us, than he asks of himself
The Christmas greeting that Pope Francis delivered to members of the Roman Curia was anything but “have yourself a merry little Christmas.” Described in the press as a “blistering attack”, a “public rebuke”, and a “scathing critique” of the Curia, Francis called his brother bishops to account for 15 “curial diseases”. While the Curia was…