Francis’s visit to Cuba went as expected, with plenty of photo-ops validating the Communist regime and perpetuating the Fidel mystique while ignoring dissidents who actually are Catholic.
In a word, disappointing.
But you wouldn’t know it from the media hype, which will continue as the pope travels to the U.S. touting the perils of capitalism and global warming while ignoring the thousands upon thousands of martyred Christians.
First, the photo-ops as Pope Francis appeases the Castros in repressive Cuba; not that Francis was alone in that as Three Popes Make Same Mistake in Cuba. Hardly surprising since the Bishops Agree to Cuban Communist Party Interference in Pope’s Religious Activities (h/t Babalu). Or, as Michael Ledeen put it, he’s The Pope of Montecristo: The story of Cuban cigars is a good metaphor for the failure of Communist tyranny, and I think it’s shameful that the first Jesuit pope in history apparently intends to talk mostly about the weather instead of freedom.
Then there was the dissidents issue:
ABC Hypes ‘Fun’ Moments of Pope Visit as Protester Is Dragged Away.
Francis landed in Washington this afternoon. He was greeted with selection of football chants. Here’s A schedule of his U.S. visit
El Papa’s week: Trans gender activists Yes, Cuban dissidents No
In other papal news, The Independent reports that Pope Francis assures atheists: You don’t have to believe in God to go to heaven
In comments likely to enhance
his progressive reputation, Pope Francis has written a long, open letter to the founder of La Repubblica newspaper, Eugenio Scalfari, stating that non-believers would be forgiven by God if they followed their consciences.
Setting aside the question of why would true non-believers care, the Catechism of the Catholic Church declares The necessity of faith
161 Believing in Jesus Christ and in the One who sent him for our salvation is necessary for obtaining that salvation
As you can see, I disagree with this,
Feel Distressed about the Future? Burdened? Give Pope Francis a Chance. http://t.co/y9pPFWpAmC via @NRO
— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) September 22, 2015
Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
llegó el obispo de Roma.
Mamita si tu lo vieras,
que cosa linda
que cosa mona.
[My translation: Mommy the bishop arrived
the bishop of Rome arrived.
Mommy if you could see him
such pretty a thing
so cute a thing.]
That is not Francis, and that’s not Cuba.
Parting question: Should I file for excommunication?
[Post corrected for HTML]
