CNN BeliefBlog: Is Pope Francis the "Catholic Princess Diana?"

[UrbScotty]

Last edited Wed Jul 17, 2013, 12:49 AM - Edit history (1)

But watching Francis’ first few months in office, it’s hard not to notice that he seems to have taken a page from the late Princess Diana’s playbook.

The Princess of Wales knew where she went, the media followed. Her activism brought global attention to homelessness, HIV/AIDs, and, most prominently, land mines.

Just as Diana ventured far from Buckingham Palace to wrap her arms around landmine victims in Africa and elsewhere, Pope Francis has taken the papacy out of the Sistine Chapel and into the streets.

Through acts such as embracing a child with cerebral palsy, washing the feet of juvenile delinquents and celebrating Mass on a migrant island, Francis is using the power of his celebrity to bring media attention to dark forgotten corners of the world.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/14/is-pope-francis-the-catholic-princess-diana/?hpt=hp_c4

[rug]

1. Good observations.

The pope wore purple – a color that symbolizes penance in Catholicism - and prayed that world leaders who ignored the plight of migrants might be forgiven.

“The fact he wore purple and asking for forgiveness was very powerful,” Christopher M. Bellitto a church historian and Associate Professor at Kean University said.

[IrishAyes]

2. A much more apt comparison would be to the original St. Francis of Assisi

Who also went about in voluntary poverty. I heard a snippet on the late night news about Pope Francis smashing the windshields of the Vatican's fleet of Mercedes this week. Diana was not w/o her redeeming qualities, but she remained an elite monarchist all the same. Not my idea of an exemplary life by any means, just not quite so bad as many others in her life circumstances.

Again, Francis of Assisi remains the better role model.

[mykpart]

3. Did he actually smash the windshields?

That seems a bit out of character. Or were they speaking metaphorically?

[IrishAyes]

4. A case could be made for keeping my mouth shut

Because I haven't yet taken the time to search out other sources to confirm. But that's definitely what they said, and I think it's in character. He hates waste and ostentation, has been trying to get others at the Vatican to adopt simpler modes of transportation - remember that even as Archbishop, Francis rode the bus; that is, when he wasn't on his bicycle down the meanest streets.

When you consider that ST. Francis gave the bolts of expensive cloth to the poor very much against his father's wishes, and how Christ drove the moneychangers out of the temple, it's quite possible that Pope Francis decided to embark on a little performance art. Especially if his subordinates angered him by refusing to sell the expensive cars. So he rendered them at least temporarily unusable. What were they going to do, have him arrested?

But honest, I'll double check this week. Let me know if you find it first.

[mykpart]

6. Seems to me that in character would be signing the titles over

to some poor churches or hospitals or schools to use for transporting parishioners, patients or students who otherwise would have to way to get to church/doctor/school. The destruction of property is what seemed out of character. But, hey, he made his point, and good for him.

[47of74]

8. I didn't see anything about him smashing windshields.

I did see where on his trip to Brazil he ditched the Popemobile in favor of a much simpler Fiat.

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2013/07/24/Fiat-not-bulletproof-Popemobile-fits-pontiffs-image-in-Brazil-visit/UPI-59871374705689/

[IrishAyes]

5. Okay, I took a quick look and didn't see it online

But if I recall, BBC was on at the time. I only heard the report. Will look some more very soon and would love it if you joined in the hunt.

[shenmue]

7. Hmmm

That's interesting. Could be.