NYT celebrates Pope Francis, "It is the lighthouse for Americans lost in the Trump storm"

The lighthouse for Americans lost in the Trump storm can be Pope Francis. This is written by the New York Times, in an article signed by David Gibson, director of the Center for Religion and Culture at Fordham University. “The desire for a leader who puts the needs and interests of others, including the least powerful, is particularly felt between The many Americans who today desperately seek a light in the darkness of Donald Trump“, says Gibson Pope Bergoglio, recalls, has been” faced with dangerous global tendencies that sometimes made the forces of liberal democracy falter: nationalism, populism, disinformation, xenophobia, economic inequality and authoritarianism. A world without a pope like Francesco will somehow resemble a Hobbesian dystopia, without a prophet indicating our best angels Or a sensitive idealist who shows a better way “.

Bergoglio “has become even more explicit while those worrying political trends have undergone acceleration, especially after Trump’s electoral victory”. But “the Pope is not a moralist”, on the contrary “he is realistic on how the world works. He hates the ideologies that divert the minds and praises the old style politics that does things”. Of course, Gibson admits, “Having a Roman pontiff as a bulwark of liberal values ​​could of course be seen as an irony” of fate Since “the Catholic Church until the middle of the last century was not, at least officially, a champion of democracy or religious freedom or other principles that the Americans, in particular, consider – or considered – fundamental”.

“Now we have the Pope who promotes many of the rights and principles against which much of America seems to turn to.” And it is not said that the dreams of some Catholics to have a ‘Trumpian’ Pope goes through. “Trump’s bullying way could even lead to a repercussions between cardinals and a less friendly papal successor with Trumpist populism What could have happened a year ago “, warns Gibson.” The outcome of the next conclave could be considered a political test for Trump and his movement, just like the conclave of October 1978, sent a message to the Soviet Union.

In that election, the cardinals chose the Polish Karol Wojtyla, “he recalls.” Of course, the outlook between good and evil is less clear today “, he explains, and the way to resolve the ‘polycrysis’ of which Francesco himself speaks is more difficult.” But while the Democrats ask themselves about a message to combat Trump, they could listen to a pope who preached one for more than a decade. ” concludes.