UNITED STATES
National Catholic Reporter
Thomas Reese | Sep. 3, 2015
The pope’s visit to the United States is going to be a whirlwind affair with scores of events and activities. In the midst of this papal storm, here are five things to focus on.
First, Francis the man.
This will be America’s first opportunity to see the pope up-close and personal. He is going to be treated like a rock star, but he is no ordinary celebrity. What people will notice is that, for the pope, the visit is not all about himself. It is about the Gospel message of God’s love and compassion and our responsibility to respond to that love by loving our brothers and sisters, especially the poor.
In other words, he is not selling himself; he is selling the Gospel message of Jesus….
Finally, Francis on message.
Many people are going to try to manipulate the pope’s visit for their own agendas. Democrats and Republicans, environmentalists and pro-life activists, bishops and victims of abuse are all going to say that their issues are the most important. Spin doctors will pontificate; critics will say he doesn’t know what he is talking about.
The inevitable goofs and stumbles of any major visit will take attention away from his message, but Francis has shown a remarkable ability to stay on message despite the circus that surrounds him.
He will focus on God’s compassion and love, and on our responsibility to love one another. His priorities are helping the poor, protecting the environment, and bringing peace to a troubled world.
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