There's Something About Francis

Cover of New York Post

I recently received a comment from a Catholic who asked that I list some positive accomplishments of Pope Francis. It's kind of a surprising request as the majority of Catholics have a very positive opinion of Pope Francis. It is true that in the United States, his positive numbers have slipped slightly, as seen in the most recent poll released by Pew Research, HERE. According to the most recent poll, released on October 7, 2015,

Among the 97 Catholics interviewed who say they attend Mass at least once a week, 84% have a favorable view of Pope Francis – down since February, when fully 95% of regular Mass-attending Catholics expressed a favorable view of the pontiff. Mass-attending Catholics have not become significantly more likely to express unfavorable views of Pope Francis; rather, they are now more likely to say they have no opinion.

As seen in this poll, the vast majority of American Catholics have no problem with Pope Francis. But, of course, when it comes to Catholic traditionalists, most view Pope Francis as basically their enemy. That is not surprising because, like all good fundamentalists, they label anyone who does not share their views as a heretic. In the case of Catholic traditionalists, the litmus test is believing that the Traditional Latin Mass is the only thing that will save the Church and the world. According to traditionalists, if you don't believe that, you're most likely going to burn in hell.

One of the basic teachings of the Catholic Church is loyalty to the Pope. In fact, that very teaching has been the reason for much of the persecution endured by Catholics down through the centuries. Catholic teaching says that the Pope is the Vicar of Christ, not a a politician that we can throw over if we don't like him. As Catholics, we look at whoever occupies the Seat of Peter as divinely led by the Holy Spirit. We see him as the literal personal representative of Jesus Christ on earth, and although we may disagree with the Holy Father from time to time, we, as Catholics, pledge our loyalty to him because we have been given a promise that, even if the Pope is the greatest of sinners, he can never mislead the Church.

Ironically, loyalty to the Pope seems to have been almost universally rejected by Catholic traditionalists, who nonetheless self identify as the most loyal Catholics ever. They feel free to voice any criticism and make any accusation that they deem fit against Pope Francis. I saw one blogger who represents himself as a deeply devoted, traditional Catholic who actually wondered if there was a way to muzzle Pope Francis for the rest of his papacy, and yet another who declared that it was not a sin to pray that the Pope would die a quick painless death. No protestant, atheist, or any other unbeliever is harsher and more critical of Pope Francis than these "most loyal" of all Catholics.

So, in answer to all of those thousands of Catholic blog posts which have nothing positive to say about Pope Francis, I offer a post in praise of Pope Francis. I know there will be those who will immediately accuse me of papolatry. So be it. When I look at Pope Francis, I see a holy man of God, and I will not apologize for that.

Despite the protestations of traditionalists to the contrary, we have seen very holy popes all throughout the past century. I can't think of any pope in the last 150 years who has not shown great marks of sanctity. Three of them have actually been declared saints - Pius X, John XXIII and John Paul II. Paul VI is a blessed. Pius XII is Venerable.  Even John Paul I - who served for a month - has been declared a Servant of God.  There is little doubt of the holiness of Pope Benedict XVI. His speeches and writings are filled with the love and wisdom of God. He has literally given his life to the Church. His resignation was one of the most courageous acts we have ever seen in a pope.

However, we have never seen a papal phenomenon like Pope Francis.

Pope Francis has galvanized almost the entire world. We thought we had seen this with Pope St. John Paul II, but Francis has had an even greater effect on the world. I saw this in spades in the Holy Father's recent visit here in New York City.

About an hour before the pope's arrival in Central Park in NYC, many in the crowd noticed
several rainbows appeared overhead, despite the fact that there had been no rain.
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New Yorkers, by virtue of living in the unofficial capital of the world, have seen it all. All New Yorkers have long lists of celebrity sightings from just walking the streets of the city, going to restaurants, etc. One friend told me that she was with her son trying to catch a cab in the rain when a woman standing next to her offered to share a cab. That woman was Caroline Kennedy.

We are use to world leaders constantly coming to our city. I remember one Saturday night when I was walking from Manhattan to Brooklyn via the Brooklyn bridge, and was forced to wait as the presidential motorcade passed first.

New Yorkers are use to living in a media showcase.  New York City is basically one big movie set. Hardly a week goes by when I don't come across a TV show or movie being shot somewhere in the city. I have seen my own neighborhood more than once in the movies and on TV.

It takes a lot to shake a New Yorker. But New York City was shaken big time by Pope Francis. Midtown Manhattan - one of the busiest places in the world - was basically closed down for Pope Francis. People lined up in Central Park for hours waiting for just a brief glimpse of the Pope as he passed by. Entire streets were shut down as people lined up behind police barricades, hoping the Holy Father would notice them.

Tickets to his events such as the Mass at Madison Square Garden were literally the hottest item in town. Even though they were free, people were scalping tickets for hundreds and thousands of dollars. Media coverage was non-stop. The only time I have seen more media coverage of any event in this city was on 9/11.

Crowds in Central Park to see Pope Francis
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Why would New Yorkers - who have seen it all - be so affected by the leader of what many in this secular city view as an archaic irrelevant church? Pope Francis is an old man who can barely speak English. There is nothing flashy about him. He doesn't even wear the red shoes.

So what's the deal?

When people look at Pope Francis, they know they are seeing a man who is real. It reminds me of how the world reacted to Blessed Mother Teresa. She was a physically tiny nun who lived in one of the poorest sections of the world. She was not physically beautiful. She had no special talents. Yet, she was beloved by the entire world because the world knew that she was for real. She truly cared for the poorest and most rejected of society. She was not concerned about impressing anyone or making a name for herself, and it was for that very reason that the world loved her.

Mother Teresa loved Jesus Christ, and she saw Her Savior in all of humanity. She knew that the best way to serve Jesus Christ was to serve people, and she quite literally poured out her life in service to humanity.  The world didn't realize it, but they were reacting to Jesus Christ who was living in Mother Teresa.

The same can be said of Pope Francis. The world sees a man with tremendous power and authority as head of a church with 1 billion members. He has relationships with the most powerful people in the world. And yet, he makes it clear that it is the poorest and most humble people of the world who receive his deepest respect and love.

New York Daily News

I watched the news coverage closely when he was in the States, and it was so obvious that his greatest joy was not in meeting the high and mighty, but on the contrary, he was happiest when he was among the "lowliest" in society, as when he visited and served the homeless in D.C. He had been invited by the top political leaders in Washington to have lunch with them. Instead, he chose those who don't even have a place to call home.

Pope Francis is greeted as he arrives at a lunch for homeless people

who are regularly fed by Catholic Charities, at St. Patrick's Church

in Washington. (Photo: AP)

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As the Pew poll showed,

In addition to asking about views of Pope Francis and his impact on impressions of the Catholic Church, the survey asked respondents what “one word” best describes their impression of Pope Francis. Among the most commonly mentioned words were “good,” “humble,” “kind” and “compassionate.” Positive words like these were mentioned far more often than neutral or negative words (like “religious,” “liberal” or “socialist”). Indeed, of the words that could be coded as positive or neutral/negative descriptions of the pope, fully three-quarters (76%) were positive, while 24% were neutral or negative.

In an interview given in his first year as Pope, he was asked "Who is Jorge Bergoglio"? His answer was one that all of us can relate to: "I am a sinner." He demonstrated this when, in front of the whole world, he went to confession, just like all the rest of us sinners.

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Pope Francis' biggest complaint about being Pope is that he can't move among the people as he used to.  Like Blessed Mother Teresa, he derives his energy from serving.  He refuses to live in the papal apartments in the Vatican where he is cut off from people.  He literally lives among those he serves. Pope Francis's love for humanity cannot be contained.  It flows out of him.

In response to the call for a list of accomplishments of Pope Francis, another reader, Alban, listed the following:

Sexual abuse crisis: Established the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, headed by Cardinal O'Malley (not exactly a liberal)

- Laicised and excommunicated a pedophile priest from Argentina and not only laicised but placed on trial the now-deceased former nuncio to the Dominican Republic.

Financial corruption:
- Established a committee headed by Cardinal Pell (again, hardly a liberal) who has managed to raise the moral credibility of the 'Vatican Bank' which had been routinely used for money laundering.

Issued the apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium”, and 2 encyclicals: the beautiful reflection “Lumen Fidei”and the challenging “Laudato si”. (Please resist the temptation to comment on these until you have actually read them.)

Granted SSPX priests the faculty to hear confessions during the forthcoming Holy Year, thus removing any doubt that they are not in schism.

Made the College of Cardinals more representative of the Church as a whole, all the while adhering to the limit of 120 voting members imposed by Blessed Paul VI, when he could have stacked the College with his 'favourites'.

These are all very good points.  But I think the most important part of Francis's papacy up to this point is his effect on people and on vividly illustrating the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.  And we have been given more than one sign of Our Lord's approval of Pope Francis.

When Pope Francis was in San Gennaro, Vatican Insider reported:

This is the first time it happened. San Gennaro’s blood had never liquefied during a papal visit to Naples before. None of the visits paid by Pius IX, John Paul II or Benedict XVI provoked the phenomenon. But the miracle was witnessed this afternoon, after Francis’ heartfelt address to faithful and clergy.

The Pope had taken the vial with the blood of St. Gennaro - displayed on the altar - in his hands and kissed it. Cardinal Sepe said over the microphone: “It is the sign that St. Gennaro loves Pope Francis: half of the blood turned to liquid.” The pronouncement was followed by a long applause from faithful. The Pope then replied: “If only half of it liquefied that means we still have work to do; we have to do better. We have only half of the saint’s love.” But the blood continued to liquefy until the whole relic had turned to liquid, with many faithful crying out as they witnessed this.

Pope Francis kissing the vial of San Gennao

I remember a post by Louie Verrecchio  in which he tried to dismiss this report.  Verrecchio is a true bomb throwing traditionalist who loudly and proudly proclaims his disdain for Pope Francis.  As he wrote in his post:

There has been no small amount of handwringing among some traditionalists (aka Catholics) over the events that took place at the Cathedral in Naples on Saturday.

This sentence alone speaks volumes about what is wrong with Catholic traditionalists.  First off, Verrecchio notes that traditionalists, instead of rejoicing at the miracle in San Gennaro, are "wringing their hands."  Why?  Because this miracle tells them that God does approve of Pope Francis, and they, the traditionalists, are not only wrong, but actually working against Jesus Christ.

Secondly, Verrecchio plainly states with the phrase, "traditionalists (aka Catholics)" that only traditionalists are real Catholics and everyone else is basically a heretic.

Verrecchio then quotes the Archbishop of Naples:

According to Vatican Insider, when Cardinal Crescenzo Sepe, the Archbishop of Naples, noticed what had happened, he exclaimed, “It is the sign that St. Gennaro loves Pope Francis: half of the blood turned to liquid!”

That is exactly what traditionalists DO NOT want to hear.  God loves Pope Francis?  AAAACK!  Talk about handwringing!

So how does Verrecchio get around this so he can continue bashing Pope Francis?

Pope Francis, for his part, responded by saying:

If only half of it liquefied that means we still have work to do; we have to do better. We have only half of the saint’s love.

I can appreciate the attempt at humour, but let’s not kid ourselves.

When Pope Francis says “we have to do better,” all indications are that he means to say, “We have to redouble our efforts to fight youth unemployment, put an end to global warming, value same sex attraction, and welcome those in adulterous relationships to Holy Communion apart from any real remedy!”

So, long story short, you won’t find me wringing my hands over the events of last Saturday, and neither should you.

We know what our Holy Catholic faith teaches. We know when it is under attack. Nothing has changed.

At least not yet.

How much does this remind us of the Pharisees dismissing the miracles of Jesus by saying, "But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." (Matt 12:24). Verrechhio takes the humble, self-effacing words of Pope Francis and twists them into something evil to suit his own purposes so that he doesn't lose his followers and can continue to bash Pope Francis. And Verrecchio also conveniently ignores the reports that said ALL of the blood liquefied, not just half.

Below is the kind of garbage comments that Verrechhio generated from his readers:

1. Christophorus 67MARCH 24, 2015

   God loves Pope Francis? Sure. He loved Judas too!

This is precisely why I no longer identify with the traditionalist movement.

A Brooklyn girl who lost use of her legs earlier this year and was blessed by Pope Francis when he was here in New York is now saying she is on the road to recovery as a result of that blessing from Pope Francis. as reported in the Daily Mail:

A wheelchair-bound girl from Dyker Heights in Brooklyn believes that her miracle journey to walking again began right after she was blessed by Pope Francis at JFK Airport in New York last month.

Julia Bruzzese, a 12-year-old seventh grader from St. Bernadette School, began suffering from a condition that caused her to lose feeling in her legs in May and was left unable to walk by June.

Despite her condition, Bruzzese went to see the Pope when he arrived at the airport in New York.

Julia Bruzzese (right) went to JFK Airport to see Pope Francis and received his blessing 

Doctors were unable to determine exactly what was causing Bruzzese's medical condition and an initial diagnosis that the paralysis was brought on by Lyme disease could not be confirmed.

Bruzzese went to Kennedy Airport because she believed 'in a miracle', CBS New York reported.

The young girl, who played softball and soccer and sang in the choir before losing the use of her legs, was in tears after she kissed the Pope's ring and he touched her forehead and blessed her.

'It means that he's going to give me a miracle, to walk again,' Buzzese told NBC New York.

'I know I will walk again because of him.'

Five days after meeting Pope Francis on the tarmac at the airport, Bruzzese got some good news.

She said: 'The miracle has begun.

'I went to the doctor and for the first time they saw Lyme disease activity in my blood and that just shows a miracle can happen if you believe, just like I did.

'If you believe and pray everything can happen.'

Bruzzese friends at school have been supporting her by using a wrist hashtag that says 'pray for Julia' and a doctor offered to treat her free of charge after learning about her story.

The brave girl said the experience has made her wiser and taught her that life is precious.

There is also another miracle reported after an encounter with Pope Francis as reported by a Phoenix news station:

"The Pope healed our baby's heart."

Lynn Cassidy has no other words to explain what happened to her 3-month-old daughter Ave. Ave was born with Down syndrome, eye problems and hearing complications. Most concerning were the two holes in her heart.

"It seems like it was really meant to happen," Lynn said. "And it's as close to a miracle as we'll ever see, I'm sure."

In Easter of 2014, the family planned a Rome trip to see Pope Francis in person during the canonization of John Paul II and John XXIII.

"It was raining," Lynn said. "We were told that if we stood on a barricade in St. Peter's Square, the metal fences in front, the Pope would come by in his 'Pope'-mobile."

The Cassidy family waited for hours at the barricade. When the motorcade turned into the square, Lynn's husband Scott held Ave up in the air.

"It was like the Lion King," Lynn said. "The secret service person, Johnny, stopped and took her from Scott and held her up to the Pope. The Pope asked my husband, 'How old is she? What's her name?' He told (the Pope) she has two holes in her heart. When we got home in May, we went back to the cardiologist for a check-up. One of the holes was completely closed and one was half the size."

A snapshot of the divine moment hangs on the family's wall. The Pope's hand over Ave's heart as he blessed the child. Lynn said the story may be incredible timing, but she believes it's divine intervention.

A portrait of Pope Francis kissing Ave hangs in the Cassidy's hallway. (Photo: West, Bryan)

"I mean it's possible that it closes just over time," she said. "But when you see the picture that the professional photographer took, his hand is here and he's a servant of God."

Ave is happy and healthy at twenty months. She underwent two eye surgeries and also received two hearing aids. Her heart is healthy and her smile is contagious.

If Lynn ever gets the chance to meet the Pope Francis again, here's what she would say, "Thank you for spreading the word that all life is precious. Even life that seems like it might have struggles like hers. She is as precious as anyone else. We just thank you for spreading that message, because people need to hear that."

There is also the report of a possessed man and his encounter with Pope Francis:

From the Christian Post:

The wheelchair-bound man that Pope Francis blessed in a controversial prayer many billed as a public exorcism earlier this month in St. Peter's Square, says the demons are still inside him.

Identified in a recent report only as Angel V., the 43-year-old Mexican father of two reportedly told Spanish-language newspaper El Mundo that the demons have withstood 30 exorcism attempts by 10 exorcists, including the Vatican's leading exorcist, Rev. Gabriel Amorth, who claims to have sent 160,000 demons to hell.

"I still have the demons inside me, they have not gone away," said Angel, while admitting that he is now able to walk since Pope Francis prayed over him on May 19 at the end of Mass.

The Vatican has maintained throughout media reports that the Pope did not perform an exorcism, which is the act of "casting out" evil spirits. What he did to Angel V., was the biblical practice of "laying on of hands" to convey blessings.

Angel V. lives in the Mexican state of Michoacán and is married. He claims to have been possessed by demons since 1999.

Popular Mexican priest, the Rev. Juan Rivas, who was with Angel V. in Rome when he met the Pope, confirmed in the El Mundo interview that he indeed underwent 30 exorcisms, but "the demons that live in him do not want to leave him."

A member of the Legionaries of Christ, Rivas recalled how Angel kissed the Pope's ring and fell into a trance instantly.

"The Pope then laid his hands on his head and at that moment a terrible sound was heard (from him), like the roar of a lion," said Rivas. "All those who were there heard it perfectly well. The Pope for sure heard it [but] he continued with his prayer, as if he had faced similar situations before."

Angel V. explained in the interview that the demons first took possession of him while he was on a bus in Mexico in 1999.

"I did not see it with my eyes, but I perceived it," he recalled. "I noted that it came close to me, and then stopped in front of me. Then, suddenly, I noted that something like a stake pierced my chest and, little by little, I had the sensation that it was opening my ribs," he said. It was like a heart attack, he explained. He thought he would have died.

His quality of life began deteriorating after that. "I could not sleep, and when I managed to sleep I had terrible nightmares connected with the evil one," he said. He started falling into trances during which he blasphemed, and spoke in unknown languages.

Both medical doctors and priests have failed to help him. He now lives in fear and feels "very dirty at the thought that there was an evildoer within me." He explained that some of his siblings thought he was mentally unstable.

The possession has also caused him to lose ownership of a publicity company and forced the sale of real estate.

He said during his suffering one night, he dreamt about Pope Francis. When he woke up and turned on his TV he saw the Pope celebrating mass and it sparked the idea that he should go to Rome.

Chief Vatican exorcist, Amorth, argues that Angel is undoubtedly possessed but his possession comes with a message from God on Mexico's abortion laws.

"Not only is he possessed, but the devil who lives in him finds himself obliged by God to transmit a message," said Amorth.

"Angel is a good man. He has been chosen by the Lord to give a message to the Mexican clergy and to tell the bishops that they have to do an act of reparation for the law on abortion that was approved in Mexico City in 2007, which was an insult to the Virgin," said Amorth. "Until they . . . do this, Angel will not be liberated."

"I did not see it with my eyes, but I perceived it," he recalled. "I noted that it came close to me, and then stopped in front of me. Then, suddenly, I noted that something like a stake pierced my chest and, little by little, I had the sensation that it was opening my ribs," he said. It was like a heart attack, he explained. He thought he would have died.

His quality of life began deteriorating after that. "I could not sleep, and when I managed to sleep I had terrible nightmares connected with the evil one," he said. He started falling into trances during which he blasphemed, and spoke in unknown languages.

Both medical doctors and priests have failed to help him. He now lives in fear and feels "very dirty at the thought that there was an evildoer within me." He explained that some of his siblings thought he was mentally unstable.

The possession has also caused him to lose ownership of a publicity company and forced the sale of real estate.

He said during his suffering one night, he dreamt about Pope Francis. When he woke up and turned on his TV he saw the Pope celebrating mass and it sparked the idea that he should go to Rome.

Chief Vatican exorcist, Amorth, argues that Angel is undoubtedly possessed but his possession comes with a message from God on Mexico's abortion laws.

"Not only is he possessed, but the devil who lives in him finds himself obliged by God to transmit a message," said Amorth.

"Angel is a good man. He has been chosen by the Lord to give a message to the Mexican clergy and to tell the bishops that they have to do an act of reparation for the law on abortion that was approved in Mexico City in 2007, which was an insult to the Virgin," said Amorth. "Until they . . . do this, Angel will not be liberated."

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/man-in-pope-francis-exorcism-story-says-hes-still-possessed-by-demons-97065/#FjtqXeOO7ZT6gcrX.99

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/man-in-pope-francis-exorcism-story-says-hes-still-possessed-by-demons-97065/#WdbC9QYiGFSOwv8R.99

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/man-in-pope-francis-exorcism-story-says-hes-still-possessed-by-demons-97065/#5mDm7RxhCPxQ8Ftl.99

I believe these are the kind of positive accomplishments of Pope Francis that need to be highlighted. Another example are the showers he installed for the homeless in St. Peter's Square.  If you have ever talked to a homeless person or been homeless yourself, you know how difficult it is to get clean and stay clean.  There is no place for the homeless to wash.  This was an act of great kindness on the part of Pope Francis.

Pope Francis has also taken in Syrian refugees into the Vatican, truly exemplifying the Good Samaritan and giving an example to the rest of us.

I was very impressed by the story from his first year as pope when Pope Francis invited a group of homeless men, including one of the men's dog, to celebrate the Pope's birthday.  According to the National Catholic Reporter:

The men, in their 40s, were from Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic. They loaded all their belongings in [Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner] car; the dog rode in the middle.

When they got to the residence, they waited for the Mass to end, then greeted the pope. Together with Krajewski, they gave the pope a bouquet of sunflowers because they always turn toward the sun like the church turns toward its sun, Christ, the archbishop said. 

The pope invited the men to have breakfast with him in the residence dining room, where they talked and shared a few laughs. 

One of the men told the pope, "It's worthwhile being a vagrant because you get to meet the pope," the paper said.

Pope Francis talks with three men Tuesday who live on the streets near the Vatican. (CNS/Reuters/L'Osservatore 

I believe that we are going to see one of the greatest years in the history of the Church with Pope Francis's declaration of the Year of Mercy.  Pope Francis is acting in direct response to the command given by Jesus Christ to St. Faustina;

Speak to the world about My mercy; let all mankind recognize My unfathomable mercy. It is a sign for the end times; after it will come the day of justice. While there is still time, let them have recourse to the fount of My mercy; let them profit from the Blood and Water which gushed forth for them. (Diary 848)

I will be writing more about this, but I believe that Pope Francis is facilitating the mercy of God to wash over the entire world, making it available to everyone. God's mercy will be like an ocean during the Year of Mercy, cleansing anyone who is willing to say Yes to Jesus Christ. And as St. Faustina writes here, the Year of Mercy will be followed by the day of justice, when I believe all hell will literally break out upon the earth as a result of our sins and for those who refused to accept the Mercy of God when it was made so freely available, as stated in Diary 1588:

Today I am sending you with My mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart. I use punishment when they themselves force Me to do so; My hand is reluctant to take hold of the sword of justice. Before the Day of Justice I am sending the Day of Mercy

In Diary 1160, St. Faustina wrote:

When once I asked the Lord Jesus how He could tolerate so many sins and crimes and not punish them, the Lord answered me, I have eternity for punishing [these], and so I am prolonging the time of mercy for the sake of [sinners]. But woe to them if they do not recognize this time of My visitation. My daughter, secretary of My mercy, your duty is not only to write about and proclaim My mercy, but also to beg for this grace for them, so that they too may glorify My mercy.

There is much more to say about this, and I will be posting on it in the future.

When Pope Francis appeared for the first time as pope on the balcony in St. Peter's Square, we all knew something different was happening.  Never had a pope looked as plain and unassuming.  

Pope Benedict XVI when he was first elected

Pope St. John Paul II appearing for the first time as pope

Pope Francis at his election

Pope Francis is not the least interested in the outer trappings of the papal office. His main goal is to save souls, and he believes the best way to do so is to directly connect with people. The papacy has been run like a monarchy for hundreds of years, and it has created a barrier between the pope and the people he serves. Pope Francis is working mightily to tear down those barriers. He tells us that he is a sinner just as we are. He struggles right along with us. He laughs with us and cries with us. He walks among us just as Christ Himself did. The Holy Spirit is working powerfully through Him. That was the message of San Gennaro.

I believe Pope Francis realizes the seriousness of the times we live in.  Billions of souls are at stake, the world is on the edge of many different major disasters.  Pope Francis is not your enemy.  He is the Vicar of Christ and the one person on earth you can count on NOT to mislead you.  The Holy Father warns us on a consistent basis who our real enemy is, as he said in a sermon from April 2014: "But look out because the devil is present! The devil is here… even in the 21st century! And we mustn’t be naïve, right? We must learn from the Gospel how to fight against Satan." 

Pope Francis's greatest accomplishments are still to come.  Don't turn away from the Vicar of Christ, and reject anyone who tells you otherwise.

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