Tough words could see Pope Francis following in the footsteps of John Paul II, writes Andrew O’Connell
Pope Francis is expected to have strong words for his American audiences when he visits later this week. Many are anticipating a repeat of the strong critique of excessive capitalism found in his recent encyclical 'Laudato Si’.
If his words are tough, he will be following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II.
On his final US visit in 1999, he described America’s death penalty as “cruel and unnecessary”, and spoke of the obligation to defend life “even in the case of someone who has done great evil”. A few years earlier, during Mass at Giants’ Stadium in New Jersey, he offered the country a pointed examination of conscience, asking: “Is present-day America becoming less sensitive, less caring towards the poor, the weak, the stranger, the needy?”
On his first visit in 1979 he challenged the country to reflect on the dignity of life, telling crowds at a Mass, set against the imposing backdrop of the US Capitol in Washington, that “no one ever has the authority to destroy unborn life”.
It was his visit to Denver for World Youth Day in August 1993 that delivered the most dramatic moment of all. It marked his first meeting with President Bill Clinton, a pro-abortion champion. Clinton was joined on the platform by the recently appointed US Ambassador to the Holy See, Ray Flynn, a former Mayor of Boston.
The president was first to speak, mentioning how he had been educated by nuns and Jesuits and praising the Pope for being “the force to light the spark of freedom” in Eastern Europe.
John Paul responded with a greeting to the first lady and Chelsea Clinton who had accompanied the president to Denver. He then addressed the theme of that year’s World Youth Day: Life.
Quoting from an address he made in Detroit during his previous visit in 1987, he said: “The ultimate test of your [America] greatness is the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and most defenceless ones.”
Everyone knew what he meant. The crowd roared its approval. And President Clinton looked on uncomfortably. “If you want equal justice for all,” the Pope continued, “and true freedom and lasting peace, then, America, defend life!”
The crowd roared even louder and, by now, Clinton was wincing. Sensing his boss’s discomfort, Ray Flynn leaned forward to whisper some distracting words to break the awkwardness.
Meetings of Heads of States are usually wrapped in protocol and pleasantries so this degree of candour was remarkable. The great American project is built on a noble set of lofty ideals and perhaps that explains the Pope’s readiness to publicly hold the country to a high standard.
In that light, it will be interesting to see what Pope Francis has to say next week.
No rest for a saint The Archbishop of Denver, James Stafford, was the Pope’s host for his 1993 visit. He describes how the Pope’s schedule had been cleared on one of the afternoons to allow time for rest. John Paul had undergone surgery for a tumour the previous year and Denver was already the third stop on a visit that had included Jamaica and Mexico. Stafford admits he was looking forward to a good nap. But the nap never happened. Rather than take to his bed after lunch, the Pope appeared at Stafford’s door wearing white runners and eager for a long, afternoon hike in the Rocky Mountains.
Denver success
That 1993 World Youth Day in Denver was a tremendous morale boost for the Church in the region. Expectations for the event had been low. Some worried that Denver – far from the traditional Catholic heartland of America – would attract embarrassingly poor crowds.
The fears were unfounded. The event was a triumph and the years afterwards saw a surge in vocations and renewed vitality. It was also a boost for John Paul who was showing the first signs of diminishing health.
Some months later, visitors to the papal apartment in Rome noticed a new framed photograph on a side table. It was an aerial shot of the crowd gathered for the final Mass. Clearly, that American trip meant a lot to the Pope.
