Additionally, dependent on an on-time schedule, the Pope has expressed an interest in seeing the public on the West Front following his address.
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“It expresses the dignity of being created in the image of God, which is why it can be said that work is sacred”, Pope Francis told pilgrims gathered in the Vatican audience hall.
“New York is going to be exceptionally interesting because you have so many heads of state in Manhattan, then the pope comes, so it kind of magnifies and amplifies the difficulties for the police, the security and the people who live in Manhattan”, Hackett said. Their optimism is rooted in the hopes that U.S. and other Israel allies will not object in order not to offend the Vatican ahead of Pope Francis’ first visit to the U.S.
Despite deep differences on some social issues such as abortion, Obama and the pope are expected to focus on areas of agreement. That way, the White House could not object and risk stirring friction against the Vatican.
“I admire Pope Francis’ faith and his compassion for the poor and needy”, MacArthur said.
For Obama, the visit offers a chance to imbue his remaining goals with a sense of moral authority as he approaches the end of his presidency.
Now, that baton has largely passed to the outspoken Francis.
Pope Francis was viewed favorably by almost 60% of Americans in a Gallup poll in July and by 70% of Americans in a Pew Research Center poll taken earlier in the spring. And that, says Acton Institute President Rev. Robert Sirico, is concerning.
Pumar said the pope’s visit “isn’t going to solve the immigration problem” but could lay the foundation for “people to talk and disagree with more civility and respect”.
The White House has praised Francis for involving himself in issues usually left to politicians.
The Vatican in May officially recognized the state of Palestine in their first formal, bilateral treaty. Papal aides insisted the two leaders indeed discussed religious freedom, life and conscientious objection – buzzwords for abortion, birth control and parts of Obama’s health care law.
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Hackett said that although most Catholic universities still have men at the top, the three largest Catholic organizations in the U.S. are run by women, including Catholic Relief Services, the worldwide humanitarian agency, of which he was president from 1993 to 2012.
