Francis in the US: Stranger in a strange land

[gilliam]

When Pope Francis sets foot on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington on Sept. 22, it won’t just be his first time in the United States as pontiff. It will be his first time in the country — ever in his life.

The former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, never followed the footsteps of so many fellow Roman Catholic leaders of his rank, who sought to raise their profiles, along with funds for missions back home, by networking within the deeply influential and well-resourced US Church.

This gap in his resume can be explained in part by Francis’ personality. He was a homebody who loathed being away and felt a profound obligation to stay near the people of his archdiocese. He also famously opposed ladder-climbing, condemning what he called “airport bishops” who spend more time traveling for their own prestige or pleasure than serving their flock.

Still, Francis’ lack of firsthand experience of the United States stands out for many, especially those struggling to absorb his unsparing critique of the excesses of global capitalism and wondering whether this first Latin American pope harbors resentment over the history of US policies in his native region.

“This trip to the United States will be the most difficult, the most challenging, and the most interesting because he’s exploring a world that for him is more foreign than Asia, than the Philippines,” where Francis traveled in January, said Massimo Faggioli, an expert in Church history at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. “It’s not just a language barrier. It’s a cultural barrier.”

cruxnow.com/us-papal-visit-2015/2015/08/31/in-many-ways-pope-francis-is-a-stranger-to-the-us/

 

[CB_Catholic]

Pope Francis may have been a homebody and come from a different cultural perspective than the US, but his message is for the Catholic (Universal) Church. What he says is for all to hear. He may appear simple, but he is not stupid, and knows very well the controversy he has caused. He also is not against Capitalism–but he is against extreme and greedy forms of Capitalism, a fact that the media downplays in favor of the other. He is neither a socialist or communist.

IMO, the media have a certain image they want to project on to Francis, and they will deliberately distort and misunderstand what he says to make him fit into that image. Francis is not that obtuse when it comes to speaking, but people don’t read what he actually said, they read what the media says he says. I have never found it hard to understand what he is trying to say when I read what he has spoken about, actually, I think he has an awesome handle on what Jesus preached. That makes many uncomfortable.

 

[Ridgerunner]

One does wonder about possible cultural differences. Most American Catholics’ roots are in northern Europe, though Hispanic immigrants will someday change that. Still, American Catholics and America as a nation has been much more involved, culturally, militarily, and economically with northern Europe.

The Pope was born and lived all his life in Argentina, which has a lot of people from northern Europe, but isn’t northern European in orientation the same way the U.S. is.

Also, despite some of the excesses of Vatican II’s “interpretations”, American Catholics outside some of the clergy and religious, largely missed out on “liberation theology” which was very big in Latin America and likely still is.

Also, among white American Catholics, particularly those who actually go to Mass, most are conservatives, politically, and don’t have a lot of patience for anything smacking of leftism.

I doubt we’ll really learn much about what the Pope really thinks about the U.S., but it’s interesting to at least wonder what he thinks of us.

 

[LongingSoul]

When Pope Francis sets foot on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington on Sept. 22, it won’t just be his first time in the United States as pontiff. It will be his first time in the country — ever in his life.

The former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, never followed the footsteps of so many fellow Roman Catholic leaders of his rank, who sought to raise their profiles, along with funds for missions back home, by networking within the deeply influential and well-resourced US Church.

This gap in his resume can be explained in part by Francis’ personality. He was a homebody who loathed being away and felt a profound obligation to stay near the people of his archdiocese. He also famously opposed ladder-climbing, condemning what he called “airport bishops” who spend more time traveling for their own prestige or pleasure than serving their flock.

Still, Francis’ lack of firsthand experience of the United States stands out for many, especially those struggling to absorb his unsparing critique of the excesses of global capitalism and wondering whether this first Latin American pope harbors resentment over the history of US policies in his native region.

“This trip to the United States will be the most difficult, the most challenging, and the most interesting because he’s exploring a world that for him is more foreign than Asia, than the Philippines,” where Francis traveled in January, said Massimo Faggioli, an expert in Church history at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. “It’s not just a language barrier. It’s a cultural barrier.”

cruxnow.com/us-papal-visit-2015/2015/08/31/in-many-ways-pope-francis-is-a-stranger-to-the-us/

It will be interesting to follow his effect on the US because I know that many people have said that just being near him is an experience because his holiness is palpable. Even Cardinal Pell said that. He seems to be someone who changes hearts by his presence and not so much his verbal competence.

You guys are so lucky to have this visit. Hope he comes down here some day!

 

[7_Sorrows]

I am really looking forward to his visit and I hope we will all feel like we know Pope Francis better. I think it is great he is coming to America for the first time.