Pope Francis was a simple man of God in a very complex and uncertain time. He embraced acceptance and humility, and I think always tried to find a path forward on divisive issues. He was genuine and that is what shone through when you saw him. He left the world a better place because of who he was and what he thought was important. I am a ministers daughter, who was blessed to be brought up by progressive and liberal parents who drove home the belief that you should not judge lest you be judged. I am not a Catholic, but can appreciate a true man of God when I see one. He will be missed.
For all of his shining virtues, Pope Francis was stained by antisemitism--a claim which will surprise and dismay, perhaps infuriate, many. I quote from the Vatican Radio broadcast reporting a statement by Pope Francis at Santa Marta on 13 October 2014.
“Why were these Doctors of the Law [read: Sadducees and Pharisees] unable to understand the signs of the times?…First of all, because they…had perfectly systemized the law….
"And, he added, 'they failed to understand that the law they guarded and loved' was a pedagogy towards Jesus Christ. 'If the law does not lead to Jesus Christ,…if it does not bring us closer to Jesus Christ, it is dead…'”.
The phrase “Doctors of the Law” is snide; it equates religious leaders with lawyers. The statement perpetuates the Christian doctrine of supersessionism, derogates those who developed the law, which is central to Judaism, and thereby disrespects the integrity of Judaism.
Pope Francis was a simple man of God in a very complex and uncertain time. He embraced acceptance and humility, and I think always tried to find a path forward on divisive issues. He was genuine and that is what shone through when you saw him. He left the world a better place because of who he was and what he thought was important. I am a ministers daughter, who was blessed to be brought up by progressive and liberal parents who drove home the belief that you should not judge lest you be judged. I am not a Catholic, but can appreciate a true man of God when I see one. He will be missed.
The accountant where I work who is in her seventies said she got baptized because of Pope Francis. He was a true Pope for the people.
He came face to face with evil his last day . Hopefully evil took something away from the encounter but I very much doubt that was the case.
Hopefully, he’s laid the way for more like him…
For all of his shining virtues, Pope Francis was stained by antisemitism--a claim which will surprise and dismay, perhaps infuriate, many. I quote from the Vatican Radio broadcast reporting a statement by Pope Francis at Santa Marta on 13 October 2014.
“Why were these Doctors of the Law [read: Sadducees and Pharisees] unable to understand the signs of the times?…First of all, because they…had perfectly systemized the law….
"And, he added, 'they failed to understand that the law they guarded and loved' was a pedagogy towards Jesus Christ. 'If the law does not lead to Jesus Christ,…if it does not bring us closer to Jesus Christ, it is dead…'”.
The phrase “Doctors of the Law” is snide; it equates religious leaders with lawyers. The statement perpetuates the Christian doctrine of supersessionism, derogates those who developed the law, which is central to Judaism, and thereby disrespects the integrity of Judaism.