Pope to prisoners: I stand before you a brother

I continue to be thrilled as this visit unfolds – in fact I am writing this column on Friday, September 25, so the primary goal for which our Holy Father came to the United States, the celebration of the World Meeting of Families has yet to come, and its fruits yet to be realized.

And then there is the pope’s position on our LGBT citizens. She leads her St. Stephen Catholic Community Church Life Team group of students who chose after their 8th grade confirmation to further explore their faith.

China’s foreign ministry responded on September 29 by saying Beijing is “sincere about improving relations with the Vatican”, according to an article in the state-sanctioned Global Times which also appeared on the website of the People’s Daily, the leading mouthpiece of the atheist Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

“She’s our oldest and it’s a great opportunity, because this will be our first grandchild”.

Last Tuesday, in his visit to victims of sexual abuse by the clergy, Pope Francis addressed another issue typically avoided in politics – and lately by the church.

The Holy See of the Catholic Church, known simply as the Pope, dominated the airwaves in America last week.

Even Bush’s wife was raised in the Catholic faith.

Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) acknowledged an interesting anomaly in the data, one that may be connected to the idea that Francis is “The People’s Pope”. “We can talk about it, we can read the scripture, but to see him is quite another thing”.

Emily Francisco awaits Sunday Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Philadelphia. “(The pope) wants to take care, not only of the survivors of the clergy, but in general.

He said the Meeting of Families will also be good for the entire continent. One appointed bishop who did receive the pope’s approval, Thaddeus Massachusetts Daqin of Shanghai, is now under house arrest for renouncing his membership in the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association during his ordination. The pope is comparable to a musical celebrity is because he commands a crowd much like a sold out concert venue.

Maria Vercollone, 27, attended the papal Mass with her new husband Anthony Vercollone. The pope has millions of groupies from all demographics.

But family and love are relative things, to a few those who don’t share the same blood sometimes are family, and a simple gesture like a lick in the face from a dog can bring more love than any relationship will. Turn on CNBC, “Is Pope Francis a business basher?”

Having no answer, I informally asked an editor friend who works for an ecumenical Christian religious news service, called Religion News Service (RNS) in Washington, D.C. if she knew the answer. His latest book is Discovering Mary. The speaker knows his listeners will be thinking “Oh yeah, that again”, so he changes directions without warning.

The point I am making is that after hearing years of criticisms of Pope Benedict XVI for being too rigid and orthodox, I am now hearing criticisms of Pope Francis for being too merciful and rudderless (most assuredly from different constituencies). “And if you don’t believe in God or are unable to pray, please wish good things for me”.

Congressman John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, said he was pleased with the pontiff’s message.

He reminded them that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, and acknowledged, that everyone – including prisoners and himself – has something “we need to be cleansed of, or purified from”.