"......but I like this Pope"

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punisherthunder

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In the event of Pope Francis’s visit to the U.S, I have noticed a lot of people talking about it. This of course has opened up many conversations about me being Catholic and invariably there are questions. I use the opportunity to evangelize on some small scale.

When discussing Pope Francis with non-Catholics I always seem to get the typical exchange:

Me: I’m really excited for his visit, it will bring a lot of interest to Catholicism.

Them: Yeah, I never liked the other Popes, but I like this Pope.

Me: Why do you like him over the others?

Them: He seems “nicer”

Anyone else had a similar exchange or chance for evangelization?
 
Many of the more conservative Evangelicals that I know have expressed disappointment that the Pope has not asserted any meaningful level of moral authority in his speeches thus far. They are looking for him to speak out directly on abortion, SSM, etc.
 
I wish I felt better about Pope Francis, he’s a little too liberal for me but I’m trying.:cool:
 
I haven’t heard it in the past couple weeks, but yes I’ve heard it before. I remember an RCIA candidate that expressed something similar after Pope Benedict stepped down and Francis was elected. Most people didn’t even know anything about the new pope and had already decided he was nicer. I asked the candidate why he thought he was nicer and he said “he just look friendlier, the old pope [Benedict] is just so grumpy”. No clue why he thought that, but some just go off appearances without looking to see how similar the last 3 popes have been. Different focus, but all were/are very compassionate men.
 
ByzCathCantor said:
Many of the more conservative Evangelicals that I know have expressed disappointment that the Pope has not asserted any meaningful level of moral authority in his speeches thus far. They are looking for him to speak out directly on abortion, SSM, etc.
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I’m just going to assume you didn’t catch his homily, because he most definitely addressed these things. He also addressed abortion directly to the president.
 
ByzCathCantor said:
Many of the more conservative Evangelicals that I know have expressed disappointment that the Pope has not asserted any meaningful level of moral authority in his speeches thus far. They are looking for him to speak out directly on abortion, SSM, etc.
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Can anyone give me a good definition of morality vs. politics? I was watching a news program this morning and one of the segments was teased with “So will Pope Francis make his speech political?”

It seems to me, to liberals, abortion is political, not moral. To conservatives, climate change is political, not moral. To Catholics, these are both moral issues, and just because one day the Pope chooses to focus his teachings on one over the other, people get upset…

That is my thought, I’d really like others to chime in and let me know if I’ve got it totally wrong!

Peace

Stephen
 
The main stream media painted Pope Benedict XVI in a very different way than they have Pope Francis. They think Pope Francis is more liberal and they convey this partisan message to the public.
 
ProdglArchitect said:
I’m just going to assume you didn’t catch his homily, because he most definitely addressed these things. He also addressed abortion directly to the president.
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To which homily or address might you be referring?
 
Stephen_says said:
Can anyone give me a good definition of morality vs. politics? I was watching a news program this morning and one of the segments was teased with “So will Pope Francis make his speech political?”

It seems to me, to liberals, abortion is political, not moral. To conservatives, climate change is political, not moral. To the Pope, they are both moral issues, and just because one day he chooses to focus his teachings on one over the other, people get upset…
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Indeed, perspective is everything. That said, I do agree with my conservative Evangelical friends that the Pope should not be afraid to speak forcefully as the leader of the Catholic Church, expounding Catholic teachings on moral issues as defined by the Church. That said, he is in America, so the emphasis could and should be on those matters where America seemingly needs the most guidance. Though the decision is behind us, SSM is a subject that can now have a profound effect on the Catholic Church in America.
 
Patti_M said:
The main stream media painted Pope Benedict XVI in a very different way than they have Pope Francis. They think Pope Francis is more liberal and they convey this partisan message to the public.
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Agreed, because there was never any question that Pope Benedict XVI was (is) a steward of traditional Catholic teaching and doctrine. That is not to say that Pope Francis is not, but his approach is very different and lead many to believe that he intends to fundamentally reinvent the Church.
 
It may not seem like such a big deal to many of us that the Pope has abandoned some of the traditional trappings of his office such as not living in the Papal suites, not riding in the limousine, eating with the poor etc., but it makes a huge difference to a world living hand to mouth.

It is hard to take talk about serving the poor and humility from someone who does not live these virtues himself. I think this has made a huge difference for the Holy Father. He has been consistent with his messages, and even his continued support for the family and other doctrinal reiterations have been done so with compassion.

Delivery and presentation are everything to someone not familiar with Catholic Church doctrine, I know there are several who do not believe that. Would you eat food that was just causally dumped on a plate, or served with love? It does make a difference, one that should be obvious to all.
 
punisherthunder said:
In the event of Pope Francis’s visit to the U.S, I have noticed a lot of people talking about it. This of course has opened up many conversations about me being Catholic and invariably there are questions. I use the opportunity to evangelize on some small scale.

When discussing Pope Francis with non-Catholics I always seem to get the typical exchange:

Me: I’m really excited for his visit, it will bring a lot of interest to Catholicism.

Them: Yeah, I never liked the other Popes, but I like this Pope.

Me: Why do you like him over the others?

Them: He seems “nicer”

Anyone else had a similar exchange or chance for evangelization?
Click to expand...
So people deemed Francis nicer than Pope John Paul II? How so? Have you seen the crowds when he came to America in 70’s? There were a lot of people there. He didn’t shun anyone away. I think some part of them likes not being told that this is how it is in the Catholic faith in regards to doctrine.
 
DlandFan06 said:
I think some part of them likes not being told that this is how it is in the Catholic faith in regards to doctrine.
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I would agree, and to some, Pope Francis’ more pastoral approach in some way encourages those Catholics who do not fully adhere to Catholic teaching and doctrine.
 
ByzCathCantor said:
To which homily or address might you be referring?
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I’m assuming it was the homily for the canonization mass. I caught it on EWTN last night and he was speaking about Genesis and related it back to the issues of the family and marriage and abortion and all of those moral issues.
 
esieffe said:
It may not seem like such a big deal to many of us that the Pope has abandoned some of the traditional trappings of his office such as not living in the Papal suites, not riding in the limousine, eating with the poor etc., but it makes a huge difference to a world living hand to mouth.

It is hard to take talk about serving the poor and humility from someone who does not live these virtues himself. I think this has made a huge difference for the Holy Father. He has been consistent with his messages, and even his continued support for the family and other doctrinal reiterations have been done so with compassion.

Delivery and presentation are everything to someone not familiar with Catholic Church doctrine, I know there are several who do not believe that. Would you eat food that was just causally dumped on a plate, or served with love? It does make a difference, one that should be obvious to all.
Click to expand...
I like your comment and I like the fact that Pope Francis would rather dine with the poor than the wealthy. He probably had more enjoyment eating with the receivers of Catholic Charities than he did with the Obamas.:curtsey:
 
ByzCathCantor said:
I would agree, and to some, Pope Francis’ more pastoral approach in some way encourages those Catholics who do not fully adhere to Catholic teaching and doctrine.
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Exactly. That’s why I really don’t like with how the Pope’s saying things because they can be seen as a blank check or rubber stamp.
 
Ugh, don’t get me started. I see it online all the time - this Pope is more loving, merciful, understanding, you name it, as if JPII and Benedict XVI weren’t all those things.
 
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