The secular world’s love of Pope Francis continues to climb. On February 13th, the Pope will be the first pontiff to be featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
The article is titled “Pope Francis: The Times They Are A-Changin’” and covers the Pope from his ascension to the papacy to his controversial comments regarding homosexuality and economics.
“As the archbishop of Buenos Aires, [Jorge Mario] Bergoglio had never been an especially gifted public speaker,” writer Mark Binelli put in the piece. “But now that he’s Pope Francis, his recognizable humanity comes off as positively revolutionary.”
The Pope has been the toast of secular publications in the last year. He’s been named Time’s Person of the Year, Vanity Fair Italia’s “Man of the Year” and he’s even graced the cover of The New Yorker in December.
He’s also been named “Person of the Year” by gay rights publication The Advocate.
A Washington Post-ABC poll shows that 69% of Americans have a favorable impression of the Pope with only a 14% unfavorable rating.
The White House has announced the President Obama will hold his first meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican in March.
The President is conducting a trip to Europe in late March and will meet with the Pope on March 27th.
“The President looks forward to discussing with Pope Francis their shared commitment to fighting poverty and growing inequality,” the White House statement said.
The President quoted the Pope during speeches speaking about the income equality problems in the United States.
Pope Francis went to give alms Sunday at a Rome parish next to the city’s main railway station on the church’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees where he spoke out on the plight of the world’s refugees.
“Let us think of the many migrants, the many refugees and their suffering,” Francis said to those in attendance. “Their lives are often without jobs and without documents and with a lot of pain.”
The Pope is the son of Italian immigrants to Argentina. The parish where he spoke on Sunday provides the needs of immigrants and homeless in Rome.
The Pope also spoke bold words against human traffickers that prey on those attempting to reach a better life in a new country. He called them “merchants of human meat who want to enslave migrants” and asked for governments to focus on not only helping immigrants but jailing traffickers.
Pope Francis delivered his harshest words yet regarding abortion.
The Pope has been very conspicuous in trying to steer the church away from subjects that have caused controversy such as abortion and gay marriage. However, in a speech Monday, the Pope made clear his opposition to the killing of babies.
The Pope said abortion was evidence of a “throwaway culture” that has dominated many parts of the world. He also said the evil of abortion was a serious threat to the world.
“Unfortunately, what is thrown away is not only food and dispensable objects,” the Pope said, “But often human beings themselves who are discarded as unnecessary.”
In addition to condemning abortion, the Pope spoke boldly against those who would use children as soldiers, those who commit human trafficking and any kind of slavery that is a “crime against humanity.”
The comments came as the Pope blessed 32 babies in the Sistine Chapel.
The Pope also announced that his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, given to the pontiff for the brand’s 110th anniversary, would be auctioned in Paris next month with the funds going to feed the poor.
The Church of St. Alfonzo Maria del Liguori on the outskirts of Rome had over 200 people come out for a live nativity scene on Sunday.
All of those people along with everyone participating in the event were shocked when a 1984 Renault 4 parked and Pope Francis climbed from the driver’s seat.
Father Dario Criscuoli, the parish priest who organized the large-scale nativity scene that included live animals, had invited the Pope to the nativity. The priest was as surprised as the congregants by the Pope’s sudden appearance.
“The pope was so happy. He told me “Keep it up. Don’t get discouraged,” Criscuoli told the Daily Independent.
The Pope walked around the ground shaking hands but clearly was focused on approaching the manger where 2-month-old baby Francesco was portraying the Baby Jesus. Francesco had been baptized in the church that morning and the Pope picked him up and gave a special blessing to the child.
The Pope then called on everyone to pray for the children born in 2014 and especially for their grandparents, whom the Pope called “the source of wisdom.”
Pope Francis made an passionate plea for peace as part of his New Year’s address saying that too many people are indifferent to war, violence and injustice.
The Pope hoped that the world would listen to his “cry for peace” saying that the heart of humanity has gone too far astray from God.
According to Vatican officials, Pope Francis strayed from his prepared text when addressing the issue of depravity in men’s hearts.
“What on earth is happening in the hearts of men?” the Pope declared. “What on earth is happening in the heart of humanity? It’s time to stop!”
“Everyone must be committed to building a society that is truly just and caring.”
The Vatican announced the Pope will choose the first batch of cardinals to join the exclusive group that will pick his one day successor on February 22. The cardinals being considered reportedly will reflect the Pope’s desire for the church to move away from its previous pompousness and focus more on caring for the poor and afflicted.
The Vatican released a statement refusing a claim from an Italian newspaper that the new Pope has basically abolished sin.
The Italian newspaper La Repubblica published an article based on private interviews with the Pope and his public statements to claim that the Pope believed sin no longer existed because “God’s mercy and forgiveness were eternal.”
“Those who really follow the Pope daily know how many times he has spoken about sin and our condition as sinners,” Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said. “This affirmation that the Pope has abolished sin is wrong.”
The author of the news story admitted he did not use a tape recorder for his conversations with the Pope and the conversation was reconstructed from memory later. The Vatican removed references to the article from its website claiming it was inaccurate.
Pope Francis divested from his prepared text during his Christmas address to the world, calling on atheists to walk away from their hostility toward people of faith and join with them in seeking peace for the world.
The Pope said that atheists can join with believers of all religions for a “homemade peace” that can spread around the world.
“I invite even non-believers to desire peace. (Join us) with your desire, a desire that widens the heart. Let us all unite, either with prayer or with desire, but everyone, for peace,” the Pope said.
Much of the Pope’s address focused on bringing peace to the world. He specifically spoke of places that have suffered significant turmoil or civil war during 2013 such as Syria and South Sudan.
“Wars shatter and hurt so many lives!” the Pope declared. He went on to speak of how wars impact the most vulnerable in a society such as children, the elderly, the sick and battered women.
The Pope reminded all that Jesus was the light of the world and that God can bring peace to our land.
“God is peace: let us ask him to help us to be peacemakers each day, in our life, in our families, in our cities and nations, in the whole world,” Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis used his first Christmas address to the crowd in St. Peter’s Square to call for a better world.
The Pope spoke to an estimated 70,000 people calling for peace in parts of the world ravaged by conflict including Syria, South Sudan, Nigeria, Iraq and the Central African Republic. The Pope prayed that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, would “bless the land where You chose to come into the world and grant a favorable outcome to the peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.”
The Pope said that true peace only comes through daily commitment to caring for those around you and for showing Jesus in life, word and deed.
The Pope reminded everyone that the choice is before you to follow darkness or follow light.
“In our personal history too, there are both bright and dark moments, lights and shadows. If we love God and our brothers and sisters, we walk in the light; but if our heart is closed, if we are dominated by pride, deceit, self-seeking, then darkness falls within us and around us,” the Pope said.
However, the Pope added if you had previously chosen darkness, it was never too late to turn to the light.
“Do not be afraid! Our Father is patient, he loves us, he gives us Jesus to guide us on the way which leads to the promised land. Jesus is the light who brightens the darkness. He is our peace,” the Pope declared.
A new poll from CNN/ORC International shows that the Pope has record levels of popularity in the United States.
The poll showed that 88% of American Catholics believe the Pope is doing an outstanding job as the head of the church. Those surveyed mentioned the way Pope Francis reaches out to the poor and needy as a big reason for their admiration.
However, the Pope’s popularity is not just limited to Catholics. The CNN/ORCI poll showed that among the average American, the Pope has an almost 75% approval rating. CNN’s Keating Holland said that number arguably makes Pope Francis the most well regarded religious figure in America.
The survey also showed that 2/3 of Catholics believe that Pope Francis is right about focusing less on social issues such as gay marriage and abortion and focusing more on issues like poverty and hunger.
The CNN report said that Francis is at a similar high as Pope John Paul II had in 1994. They noted that popularity with Pope John Paul II fluctuated as the church dealt with the priest abuse scandal.
