Pope Francis's speech to multifaith gathering at 9/11 memorial

[outremer]

POPE FRANCIS’ SPEECH AT 9/11 MEMORIAL

It is a source of great hope that in this place of sorrow and remembrance I can join with leaders representing the many religious traditions which enrich the life of this great city. I trust that our presence together will be a powerful sign of our shared desire to be a force for reconciliation, peace and justice in this community and throughout the world.

I’m a little disconcerted that Christ was not mentioned once in the speech. Is this considered bad for the Pope to mention the name of Jesus, even at such an interfaith gathering?

 

[meltzerboy]

POPE FRANCIS’ SPEECH AT 9/11 MEMORIAL

I’m a little disconcerted that Christ was not mentioned once in the speech. Is this considered bad for the Pope to mention the name of Jesus, even at such an interfaith gathering?

Due to the interfaith nature of the prayer, Pope Francis may have refrained from specifically mentioning the name of Jesus. However, he did mention G-d, Who, for Christians, would be identical to Jesus. Moreover, his message was one of peace and reconciliation despite differences and disagreements, and of unity through diversity rather than rigid uniformity. He also stated that each in his own way should offer a prayer. I thought he gave a beautifully sensitive and heartfelt speech.

 

[AClaire11]

My family was disturbed that he only used the word “attack” once and instead referred to 9/11 as “senseless destruction.” Senseless destruction is when a madman opens fire into a crowd. 9/11 was meticulously planned and carried out. It was terrorism. The phrase senseless destruction in no way applies. We’re from Manhattan and to hear that horrible day referred to in this wishy-washy way was disconcerting and very disappointing.

 

[ringil]

Due to the interfaith nature of the prayer, Pope Francis may have refrained from specifically mentioning the name of Jesus. However, he did mention G-d, Who, for Christians, would be identical to Jesus. Moreover, his message was one of peace and reconciliation despite differences and disagreements, and of unity through diversity rather than rigid uniformity. He also stated that each in his own way should offer a prayer. I thought he gave a beautifully sensitive and heartfelt speech.

And it take a jew on a Catholic forum to give unbridled praise to the Pope.

Something strange about that methinks.

Anyway meltzerboy- I’ll join with you in acclaim for Francis’ eloquent address.

 

[christofirst]

And it take a jew on a Catholic forum to give unbridled praise to the Pope.

Something strange about that methinks.

Anyway meltzerboy- I’ll join with you in acclaim for Francis’ eloquent address.

Agreed.

Meltzerboy’s (and others of differing faiths) welcome witness here makes these forums an ongoing multifaith gathering

 

[mikekle]

My family was disturbed that he only used the word “attack” once and instead referred to 9/11 as “senseless destruction.” Senseless destruction is when a madman opens fire into a crowd. 9/11 was meticulously planned and carried out. It was terrorism. The phrase senseless destruction in no way applies. We’re from Manhattan and to hear that horrible day referred to in this wishy-washy way was disconcerting and very disappointing.

Im not surprised by this, look at how our leaders absolutely avoid ANY mention of Islamic terrorism today, they just refuse to acknowledge it…same thing happening here imo. I thought most of his speeches were wishy-washy in general, he was either too vague, or alluded to topics instead of addressing them directly. It seems like the Popes speech writers had some help from US speech writers, as not to offend too many people…cant do that! lol

 

[lax16]

And it take a jew on a Catholic forum to give unbridled praise to the Pope.

Something strange about that methinks.

Anyway meltzerboy- I’ll join with you in acclaim for Francis’ eloquent address.

My Jewish in-laws and friend really, really like Pope Francis.

He’s doing something right.

 

[LongingSoul]

Out of curiousity for those that remember … did people get up in arms in this way during Pope StJPII’s visit to the US in 1995?

I was just perusing his list of addresses and of the 4 made as papal stateman rather than homilies at Masses or addresses to Catholic agencies… he mentions Christ in only one of the last paragraphs of his address to the United Nations.

christusrex.org/www1/pope/speeches.html

People seem to be obsessed with criticising Pope Francis in whatever way they can find. That’s what I find most disturbing of all.

 

[Bryan_Paul]

After not hearing a single utterance of the name Jesus or even Christ, in either the address to Congress or the UN address, I completely expected to hear Him mentioned by Pope Francis at the interfaith meeting at ground zero. I was dismayed not to hear His Most Holy Name uttered.

This is not coincidence or mere political expedience. It is studied avoidance. You can not honestly claim that it is due to the fact that everyone knows Pope Francis is the Vicar of Christ. Even were that true, Jesus can never be taken for granted. References to heaven, “the most high”, etc. are nondescript, vanilla, indifferent. We expect our leaders to point to what makes us radiate joy - not a nameless light or creator, but Jesus Christ. Read the speech - can a person have true hope in the human spirit? Must not true hope come from a belief in the Risen Lord?

I honestly do not understand what is going on.

 

[christofirst]

After not hearing a single utterance of the name Jesus or even Christ, in either the address to Congress or the UN address, I completely expected to hear Him mentioned by Pope Francis at the interfaith meeting at ground zero. I was dismayed not to hear His Most Holy Name uttered.

This is not coincidence or mere political expedience. It is studied avoidance. You can not honestly claim that it is due to the fact that everyone knows Pope Francis is the Vicar of Christ. Even were that true, Jesus can never be taken for granted. References to heaven, “the most high”, etc. are nondescript, vanilla, indifferent. We expect our leaders to point to what makes us radiate joy - not a nameless light or creator, but Jesus Christ. Read the speech - can a person have true hope in the human spirit? Must not true hope come from a belief in the Risen Lord?

I honestly do not understand what is going on.

Read the homily Pope Francis gave during the Mass at Madison Square Garden Friday, right after the UN address. We watched it on CNN, and the link I’m providing is from ABC, so our Holy Father’s words about God and Jesus, which are plentiful in this homily, reached a very wide audience:

abcnews.go.com/US/read-pope-francis-full-homily-madison-square-garden/story?id=34043728

“The prophet Isaiah can guide us in this process of ‘learning to see’. He presents Jesus to us as ‘Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace’. In this way, he introduces us to the life of the Son, so that this can be our life.”

The whole homily is centered on Jesus.