For the fifth year in a row, Pope Francis is listed among the 100 most influential people in Time Magazine’s recently released 2017 list.
Donald Trump, who will likely meet the pope in late May, was also featured as one of the most influential people on the planet, as was Kim Jung Un, the leader of North Korea. In a divisive world, many of these individual’s represent polar opposites and even enemies in some cases.
The Vatican said it welcomes world leaders who ask to visit. “Pope Francis always is willing to welcome heads of state who ask,” said a Vatican official, referring to the potential of an audience with Donald Trump.
Time published a brief reflection on the pope by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago who emphasized his humility.
“I am a sinner,” Francis said when he was elected pope. “This is the most accurate definition. It is not a figure of speech.”
Other figures penning the short text that accompanies the picture of the honoree in previous years include President Barack Obama, who in 2014 called Francis “A moral leader in word and deed.” Desmond Tutu, retired Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, wrote about the pope in 2015.
Pope Francis continues to call for nations to welcome refugees amid a global crisis. He also uses events and circumstances to improve the Vatican image which has been tarnished by sex and banking scandals. By ministering to the poor, he fulfills one of the key Jesuit principles, which conceals Rome’s deadly purposes toward the true followers of Jesus. See The Great Controversy, page 235.
“And his deadly wound was healed…” Revelation 13:3.