Dem
47
GOP
53
We had a few possibilities for this space, but this is obviously the timely one, so we're going with it. We are not Catholic, so we're not in a position to evaluate the recently departed Francis from that vantage point. But, by virtue of having followed politics for decades, we do know a thing or two about sniffing out phonies. Some leaders pretend to care about the poor, or other marginalized groups, but it's just a show. Boris Johnson, to take one example that immediately leaps to mind, always struck us as being as fake as Donald Trump's tan. However, every bit of our instinct says that when Francis said that he cared about the poor and downtrodden, he really meant it.
One of the former pope's final gestures serves as a pretty good illustration of this. As readers will know, the sitting Bishop of Rome travels in one of several popemobiles that are meant to maximize visibility while at the same time minimizing risk of assassination. It's a delicate dance, to say the least. And as one of his last earthly acts, Francis, working with the organization Caritas, and with financial support from several allies, arranged for one of his popemobiles to be converted into a mobile health clinic. According to a statement from Caritas, "There'll be rapid tests, suture kits, syringes, oxygen supplies, vaccines and a small fridge for storing medicines."
Francis also made arrangements for the new pope-med-mobile's first assignment. It's going to Gaza, to help treat sick and injured children. The pontiff described this as his "final wish for the children of Gaza" in the weeks before he passed away. At the moment, and for the last 2 months, Israel has closed off all foreign aid to Gaza, meaning that the project is currently in dry-dock. But once the Netanyahu administration lifts the blockade, deployment will take place.
And so, one last tip of the mitre to Francis. En pace requiescat.
Have a good weekend, all! (Z)