Mayor Michael Nutter is speaking about the history of Philadelphia and it's values. He states it is appropriate for Philadelphia to be the final city in the USA for the Pope to visit.
Mayor Nutter feels completely comfortable speaking about the wide diversity in the USA. He cites "Do unto others as you would have done unto you." It's all there. Pope Francis is opening up dialogue on all subjects.He cites John J. Andrerson (click here) as the man who asked him to enter politics and lead Philadelphia.
The Governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf is speaking. He has a special place for the Pope's travels on his official website. (click here) He calls on Pope Francis request to dedicate government to fairness, openness and justice.
I am sure every government synthesizes Pope Francis message in it's own way. This is the USA. It is about diversity.
Kindly remember Pope Francis has not found it helpful to incorporate religion and politics for the purposes of oppression. That is not his message and he gives no government permission to oppress people on the basis of religion.
It is interesting all this openness comes as a message from Philadelphia. Very interesting. The crowd tomorrow is expected to be over one million people. Pope Francis is celebrating the family in this visit. He certainly does not have the idea people are cast out of a single mold called, "Acceptable."
He blessed the oak cross that symbolizes Hispanic Catholics. It is the symbol of the beginning of a mission of the church. The cross will travel across the USA to bring Hispanics an interest in the church, including immigrants.
Pope Francis heard the music composed by Aaron Copeland, long held as a great American composer.
This is his composition, "Fanfare for the Common Man."
Holy smokes he praises voting rights and the labor movement and human dignity. He praises the assimilation of immigrants into the US society. He completely embraces democracy as freedom and notes religious freedom as a right. He includes diversity and interfaith dialogue provided through liberty. He identifies conscience as a freedom. He recognizes the cultures of any people as valuable. He states culture calls society and individuals to religious expression. He identifies history as a reflection on atrocities with principles that deny rights. He states religion has an enduring power to insure freedoms and expand the quality of life and common good. (It is true that religion does bind people together. Families practice a culture rich with religion in many instances and it becomes an intricate part of their lives. If parents baptize a child that is a cultural expression and promise. It brings the child to be one with god and expectations the parents will be dedicated to that child within their culture. He is correct. Religion adds moral content to society without asking thank you. My words, not his.)
Ah, the "American spirit." He embraces it. He states, It is an ultimate test of your greatness is how you treat every person, but, especially the weakest and defenseless ones." He also embraces the way in which the American people rise to speak out injustices. He believes globalization is a good method but it has failings to bring equality to all people. I think he is expressing income and wealth ineuality. He expresses globalization as a method that can bring about quality of life if practiced with equality in mind.
I know, I know; local economies stand in defiance and in defense from globalization and exploitation of the people by a few for the purpose of monetary gain. Don't try to manipulate this, Pope Francis emphasizes EQUALITY of quality of life. He doesn't find poverty as an equality of globalization. So, until Wall Street embraces the middle class as an equal partner to be maintained and not held in disdain to their greater profits, local economies stand!
He asked everyone to remember what happened here (Philadelphia) over 200 years ago.
Pope Francis asks the people to embrace their rights and freedom and to pray for him.
He blessed everyone after the joint prayer of "The Lord's Prayer." There is a bell ringing as if the Liberty Bell came back to life. Religions have a long history of bells as a call to worship.
He is amazing. He moves people to tears. Young people.
