Tag: pope francis

Americans are gung-ho for Pope Francis’ U.S. visit — if they know he’s coming.

Pope Francis is set to name Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich, viewed as one of his top allies in the American hierarchy, as a special delegate to a Vatican summit on family issues in October that is shaping up as a key test of the pontiff’s efforts to reform the Catholic Church.

Speaking out on one of the most contentious issues of his papacy, Pope Francis on Wednesday (Aug. 5) issued a powerful call for the church to embrace Catholics who have divorced and remarried, telling a gathering at the Vatican that such couples “are not excommunicated, and they absolutely must not be treated that way!”

Growing conservative disaffection with Pope Francis appears to be taking a toll on his once teflon-grade popularity in the U.S., with a new Gallup poll showing the pontiff’s favorability rating among all Americans dropping to 59 percent from a 76 percent peak early last year.

With release of the Pope’s encyclical, the forces who actively defend greed as good for everyone have been scrambling to shelter unfettered capitalism and free market ideology from the harsh light of Christian theology. As Jesus says, when the light of the gospel shines the sinners scatter. Greed defenders have their work cut out for them.

Immaculate Heart Retreat Center will host a Silent Day of Prayer on the Joy of the Gospel entitled, “Pope Francis’ Message: Hope and Joy” led by the Rev. Robert McNeese on July 28 from 9 a.m — 3 p.m.

When thinking about my answer to this question, those words kept cropping up in my head. I just love the guy, I thought.