Pope Francis’ speech to the Republican-dominated U.S. Congress left everyone with something to take away. The pope did not confront issues that would offend either side. Instead, bi-partisan praise for the pope’s unifying message dominated the post-speech discussion.
Though he claimed that human activity was destroying the environment, he did not use the words, “climate change,” which is divisive buzzwords in a divided Congress. Instead, he used environmental deterioration, words that most can agree with. He also said the U.S. should welcome immigrants and spoke about the ills of income inequality.
Conservative Republicans said the pope’s message deftly and effectively avoided antagonizing them with his famously progressive views. He also spoke calmly and not in a confrontational tone. Lawmakers heard what they wanted to hear, even though his comments were sometimes ambiguous and “nuanced.” And most will come away with things that “support” what they have been saying.
“I am convinced that we can make a difference, and I have no doubt that the United States — and this Congress have an important role to play,” Francis said. Even global warming skeptics. “This was an equal opportunity speech,” said Rep. Andy Harris, a Republican from Maryland.
Sen. Jim Inhofe, a Republican from Oklahoma, the Senate’s leading climate skeptic, said the pope was saying things that “everyone would agree” upon. “In a way, I think it was less forceful on those subjects than I thought it would be.”
Many conservative Republicans had feared that the pope would use the world-wide platform of the speech to Congress to aggressively rail on climate change, capitalism, and gun violence and other hot-button topics like he does elsewhere. But he didn’t.
Papal politics are intended to unite people around support of the pope and the Papacy. And many Republicans came away thinking the pope had delivered a unifying message overall. His message, they say was respectful and did not tread on political turf.
He spoke glowing of America and challenged the Congress to accept its role and responsibility with American exceptionalism. “There’s very little disagreement with the goals that the Pope laid out,” said California Republican Rep. Devin Nunes.
“To see the kind of unanimity of interest and support in the Pope and his message, I think it’s a wonderful thing,” said Rick Santorum, former Senator and presidential candidate. “…it’s a tone changer. It allows everyone to take sort of a step back from politics and the decisiveness and listen to someone who’s a shepherd.”
Texas Senator Ted Cruz said the pope’s remarks were “powerful.” The speech “inspired me to be a better person in my personal life but I didn’t take a legislative mandate from it,” Cruz said.
Pope Francis also spent little time taking aim at abortion, which would have put him at odds with Congressional Democrats. And most Republicans weren’t critical that he skirted the issue. Instead he called for respect for life by calling for the abolition of the death penalty, a unifying issue in the U.S. Congress.
And though the pope called for more traditional families, Democrats did not criticize him for it. Instead they expressed their support for gay marriage.
Despite the bipartisan praise for Pope Francis, few expect it to change the dynamic much. “I don’t even think the Pope can alter that,” said Nunes.
“All the world wondered…” Revelation 13:3
Source Reference