Pic(s) Of The Day - 09.27.15 - One Of A Kind

Pope Francis came to visit the U.S.A. It was in conjunction with an address to the United Nations. He also addressed the a joint session of Congress, which was a first. And, prior to his address he met with U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner. I didn't realize Boehner is Roman Catholic so I can imagine that this was a big deal.

I didn't have a chance to travel to the east to see him so these photos are not my own. I can't remember where I found them but they're significant because they are from a prison that he went to visit in the Philadelphia, PA. I found out later that the chair was made by some of the prisoners under the direction of the prison staff.

While he hasn't come around on some issues like I think he should, he is definitely showing that he is the Pope Of The People. He continues to put himself among us commoners.

CNN - Top Stories of 2013

CNN asked its viewers to vote on the top stories for 2013.  When I reviewed the list it served as a good reminder of some of the stories I had forgotten about.  The selection was varied: Jodi Arias Convicted; George Zimmerman Acquitted; The Year of Miley; Nairobi Mall Siege; Philippines Typhoon; etc. The entire selection can be viewed here.

So what made the Top 10 List?

1.  New pope
2.  Boston marathon attacks
3.  Mandela dies
4.  Edward Snowden leaks NSA
5.  Federal government shutdown
6.  Obamacare rollout debacle
7.  Philippines typhoon
8.  Syria civil war
9.  Cleveland kidnappings
10.SCOTUS on same-sex marriage

What were your top stories of the year?

Esquire Magazine Best Dressed Man of 2013

source: Getty Images

The accolades from Pope Francis continue.  Esquire Magazine has named him Best Dressed Man for 2013.

From the article: 

"Ann Pellegrini, Associate Professor of Performance Studies & Religious Studies at New York University puts it this way: 'The humility of his garments offers a way to visibly display his theological and material concerns for the poor. This Holy Roman emperor really does have new clothes.'"

You can read the full story here.

Do Not Be Afraid

source: CNN

"On this night, let us share the joy of the Gospel. God loves us. He so loves us that he gave us his son to be our brother, to be light in our darkness. To us the Lord repeats, 'Do not be afraid,' ... And I, too, repeat, do not be afraid,'" the Pope said.

"There are both bright and dark moments, lights and shadows," Francis said in his homily. "If our heart is closed, if we are dominated by pride, deceit, self-seeking, then darkness falls within us and around us."

To read more of the Pope's address, visit CNN and NPR.

NOH8

I saw this picture on a blog yesterday and I think on a Facebook posting and I actually thought someone was doing a spoof of The Advocate's cover.  Upon further research, I found out that they had named Pope Francis their Person of They Year.  The quote on the cover says it all, "If someone is gay and seeks the Lord with good will, who am I to judge?"

This quote from Pope Francis was made earlier this year during an interview on an airplane.  It immediately made the news.

To read The Advocate's article, click here.

In other news...

On Sunday, I was looking at the news feed on my Facebook page and noticed that a friend had posted a link to the blog The Boeskool.  The title of the post is 10 Things Pope Francis Has Done That Make Me Consider Being Catholic.

I don't know who is handling the Pope's pr but their doing a helluva job. Oops...is that considered cursing while writing about the Pope.

Pope Francis - Person of the Year

Congratulations Pope Francis on being named Time Magazine's Person of the Year! I'm not sure if you are reading my blog but if you are I want you to know that in the short amount of time you have been Pope, you have already made a difference. Congrats from The Calvinator and me. Oh, and even though he would have liked for you to take the name of Calvin, he was just as happy that you chose Francis.

For those of you who don't know why he was selected, Time's managing editor Nancy Gibbs called the Pope "a new voice of conscience."

"In his nine months in office, he has placed himself at the very center of the central conversations of our time, about wealth and poverty, fairness and justice, transparency, modernity, globalization, the role of women, the nature of marriage, the temptations of power," she said. "When he kisses the face of a disfigured man or washes the feet of a Muslim woman, the image resonates far beyond the boundaries of the Catholic Church."

The Pope's response to the honor?
"The Holy Father is not looking to become famous or to receive honors. But if the choice of Person of Year helps spread the message of the gospel-- a message of God's love for everyone-- he will certainly be happy about that." -Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi

For the full story, click here.

And in related news, I actually met Edie Windsor who came in 3rd for Person of the Year.  We met in Baltimore in 2012.

Survey Says...!

So it seems that Pope Francis wants our opinion.  I am willing to bet that in the history of the Roman Catholic Church there has never been a Pope that has taken the time to listen to the members of the faith.

Growing up, I attended parochial school for 12 years.  I think I'm a subject matter expert when it comes to living in a dictatorial environment during the school day; well, at least grades 1-8.

I'm very pleased that he is at least making the effort to get opinions.  I think it would be great if the bishops did an online survey in each diocese.  They could definitely reach more people.  Maybe even do a Facebook survey or have us tweet our replies #thanksforlistening

Anywho, I'm glad he wants our opinion.