The POPE

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MADMARTIGAN said:
Sorry in advance, not sure where to put this.

I am having a really hard time with the POPE. He is more outspoken than others that, at least I can remember. Can someone help me understand him. I just feel like when atheist, non believers, and morally corrupt people praise him and quote him there’s something not right. I also feel like he has more of a agenda than being a catholic. Maybe its me, Maybe I have lost my way? I just don’t feel like hes MY POPE. Sorry if I offend anybody, not my intention. Just looking for answers.
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It is not ours to understand everything about the Pope, Jesus or the Trinity. In fact it is not ours to understand everything about anyone other than ourself and our life’s mission and purpose. Your “hard time” is an invitation to humility and obedience…nothing more.
 
Faith1960 said:
I agree. And IMO Pope Benedict was too gruff and seemingly unfriendly for my taste.
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I thought he would be like that, but I did not get that impression from his actual papacy.

Of course, compared to Pope Francis (or at least the popular view of Pope Francis, as I am sure I have heard inaccurate reports about him), just about anyone would seem unfriendly. The two men do have very different personal styles, but they preach the same Faith.

Usagi
 
Faith1960 said:
I agree. And IMO Pope Benedict was too gruff and seemingly unfriendly for my taste.
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Unfriendly? Pope Benedict XVI was frighteningly friendly. Crazy friendly. IMO, he was substantially more ‘bookish’, more academic than Pope Francis; and Pope Francis more street level, faith-in-practice, than PB 16–but ‘friendly’? The guy perpetually had a smile on his face that he could scarcely conceal.

If we’re going to compare the 2, I’d liken PB16 to St. Augustine, and Pope Francis to his actual namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, as the former left us 5 million words in print, clarifying the Faith intellectually, and the latter, a legacy of humility–of the Faith in practice, without so much verbiage.

And both Popes were/are both excellent, just as St. Augustine and St. Francis were both excellent, and both left indelible impressions on the Church.

FWIW/JMHO.
 
We have the rare pleasure of living in a time of 3 popes representing three central themes of our faith:

Faith - Pope Benedict
Hope - Pope John Paul
Charity - Pope Francis

Thanks be to God!
 
tskrobacz said:
We have the rare pleasure of living in a time of 3 popes representing three central themes of our faith:

Faith - Pope Benedict
Hope - Pope John Paul
Charity - Pope Francis

Thanks be to God!
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👍

I love this. Very cool.

Just curious though–I get P. Francis as Charity; but why did you switch the chronological order of the first 2 mentioned–St. PJP II seems to me he might fit ‘Faith’ better (in light of his stance wrt the Cold War, and standing up to communism, and before that, the Nazis–which imo, were the ultimate demonstration of Faith in God against some of the most challenging circumstances in history…), and perhaps P B XVI, hope, in so much as he represented continuity and fulfillment of PJP II and Vat II–IOW, continued grounding of those principles–and therefore, continued/renewed hope for the future.

And of course, then you wouldn’t have to switch the order of the first 2; but that’s just me mind you; and I’m not volunteering that to suggest that you change your order–rather, because I’m curious as to what was your reason for switching the chronological order of the first 2 popes.

Just curious.
 
Goya said:
Concur.

(…and I think it serves as confirmation of the Holy Spirit’s guiding hand in his election as Pope).
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👍
7_Sorrows said:
I didn’t find Pope Benedict unfriendly at all. I miss him a lot.
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Amen, me too…and I pray for him often. I really love much of what he wrote.
Usagi said:
I thought he would be like that, but I did not get that impression from his actual papacy.

Of course, compared to Pope Francis (or at least the popular view of Pope Francis, as I am sure I have heard inaccurate reports about him), just about anyone would seem unfriendly. The two men do have very different personal styles, but they preach the same Faith.

Usagi
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A good assessment!
tskrobacz said:
We have the rare pleasure of living in a time of 3 popes representing three central themes of our faith:

Faith - Pope Benedict XVI
Hope - Pope John Paul II
Charity - Pope Francis

Thanks be to God!
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I don’t think it can be stated any better. Did you read this somewhere or did you come up with that on your own? It would make an absolutely awesome sig line!
 
Goya said:
👍

I love this. Very cool.

Just curious though–I get P. Francis as Charity; but why did you switch the chronological order of the first 2 mentioned–St. PJP II seems to me he might fit ‘Faith’ better (in light of his stance wrt the Cold War, and standing up to communism, and before that, the Nazis–which imo, were the ultimate demonstration of Faith in God against some of the most challenging circumstances in history…), and perhaps P B XVI, hope, in so much as he represented continuity and fulfillment of PJP II and Vat II–IOW, continued grounding of those principles–and therefore, continued/renewed hope for the future.

And of course, then you wouldn’t have to switch the order of the first 2; but that’s just me mind you; and I’m not volunteering that to suggest that you change your order–rather, because I’m curious as to what was your reason for switching the chronological order of the first 2 popes.

Just curious.
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I saw Pope Benedict as a staunch defender of the faith. See his biography here:

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/biography/documents/hf_ben-xvi_bio_20050419_short-biography_en.html

Whereas Pope John Paul (now Saint) inspired hope in millions (or more) during his papacy. One of his signature works was “Crossing the Threshold of Hope”. His biography is here:

vatican.va/special/canonizzazione-27042014/documents/biografia_gpii_canonizzazione_en.html
 
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