Today as I depart to the Amazon — a lifelong dream of mine — I am greeted with extraordinary headlines from the new pontiff’s trip to Brazil. Pope Francis’ astonishing statements to Brazilians are bold and promising and, I hope, consequential.
Brazilians are paying attention — live coverage is broadcast on the nation’s televisions and locals dutifully switch back and forth between soccer matches.
I hope the world is listening too. While these are just words, Pope Francis seems to be a man of action. I’m beginning to like this guy…
Pope Francis to Business and Political Elites: Stop Pillaging The Earth
I would like to invite everyone to reflect on what Aparecida said about the Amazon Basin, its forceful appeal for respect and protection of the entire creation which God has entrusted to man, not so that it can be indiscriminately exploited, but rather made into a garden.
Pope Francis to Youth: Fight Against Corruption
Do not grow accustomed to evil, but defeat it. Do not lose trust, do not allow your hope to be extinguished, do not grow disillusioned with news of corruption.
Pope Francis to Bishops: Get Out Of Your Churches
We cannot keep ourselves shut up in parishes, in our communities. Let us courageously look to pastoral needs, beginning on the periphery (of where we live), with those who are farthest away.
