Windsor opinion of Pope Francis favourable

 

Opinion in Windsor shows support for Pope Francis’s decision to address political issues in his recent speech to the U.S congress.

By addressing issues like climate change and the Syrian refugee crisis, the Pope is continuing the church’s history of commenting on current global situations.

According to Maurice Restivo, a pastor at Assumption Catholic Parish, it is necessary for the church to display caring for a society’s whole welfare, not just its spiritual wellbeing. Restivo said the Pope is just living out his Christianity.

“If he’s caring for his flock, for the people of the world and for Catholics, well, part of caring for them is ensuring their physical wellbeing,” said Restivo. “There’s a line from the letter of James that says if you’ve got a friend who’s in need and you say to him ‘good luck, keep warm and well fed,’ then your faith is in vain. So Pope Francis is just living out his Christianity.

Pope Francis is not the first Pope to tackle current affairs, according to Restivo. Pope Leo XIII, who was Pope from 1878-1903, encouraged the co-existence of science and religion, as well as the reconcilement of the church and the working class. Both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI played major roles in the world. Yet public opinion seems to support the notion that Pope Francis holds more authority than any member of the papacy before him.

“He just seems so much more down to earth and understanding,” said Brooklyn Golden, a first year St. Clair College student. “He seems to understand the world changes and that we can’t keep it the way it’s been forever… People’s values change over time, culture’s values change over time. If religion doesn’t change over time then it’s going to become a dead religion.”

Restivo, however, believes the Pope is simply adhering to ‘biblically based and church-based values.’ It is his humility, both in his demeanor and in whom he addresses, that sets him apart.

“He has set aside a lot of the trappings of the office,” said Restivo. “He’s embraced the life of simplicity, a certain poverty, and he’s very much one of the people… “He’s touched people because of his absolute simplicity and availability.”

According to Shane McKinnon, a first year St. Clair College student and former member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, these actions themselves are revolutionary. She said when the Pope discarded the bullet-proof pope mobile in favour of something more common, many of her peers thought the action heretical. The pope may still have his detractors.

“He is trying to be more progressive than the other popes… he’s trying to be more in tune to what’s actually going on right now,” said McKinnon.