Tuesday, July 23, 2013

The Pope's in Brazil



A wrong turn sent a humble Fiat carrying Pope Francis into the thick of a frenzied Rio crowd Monday, in his first minutes back in South America since becoming pontiff. It was a nightmare for security officials, but for the clearly delighted pope just another opportunity to connect.

Ecstatic throngs forced his motorcade to repeatedly come to a standstill, weeks after violent protests against the government paralyzed parts of Brazil. Francis' driver had turned into the wrong side of a boulevard at one point, missing lanes that had been cleared. Other parts of the pope's route to the city center weren't lined with fencing, giving the throngs more chances to get close, with uniformed police nowhere in sight to act as crowd control.

I hate, hate, hate the use of bullet-proof glass to protect the pope.  That sort of fear is entirely inappropriate.  Christians have no fear of death, it is a very basic tenet in our theology. 

Walk with God and have no fear!

4 comments:

edutcher said...

Agree on the use of bullet-proof glass, but, after the Moslem that tried to kill John Paul, there isn't much choice anymore.

But, clearly, people in Brazil know who their friends are.

dc said...

Taking normal precautions is prudent.Prudence is a cardinal virtue.

Saint Croix said...

I suck at prudence.

dc said...

So does Anthony Weiner.