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In reply to the discussion: Biden and Pope Francis team up against cancer [View all]MADem
(135,425 posts)First, the fact that there are a lot of Roman Catholics in NY. Second, that Francis is a popular guy in those parts. Third, that Jeffrey Sachs was a member of the Academy of Social Sciences. Fourth, that he went around the President of the Academy to the Chancellor to cadge an invite for Bernie. Fifth, that Bernie told two news outlets that a) The POPE invited him and b) He was going to MEET with FRANCIS!
It's all down to the "politicization" of the Pope--who, even though some DUers might hate him and get really violent about religion in public life, is a popular guy, even amongst the non-faithful, and despite the fact that his religion is certainly far from perfect. And what was funny is that some of those virulent/violent types were suddenly getting all misty eyed about Francis "because Bernie."
When people are seen to be using other people in a rather craven and obvious way, it jumps out.
Biden isn't "using" the Pope--if anything, the POPE is using Biden. We're AMERICA, doggone it--and while the Pope looks at us and wags his finger and calls us assholes for this intervention or that, the fact that Biden went over there, spoke, and met with Old Frank, ensures that the POPE's initiatives will make every evening news broadcast in America. It's a symbiotic relationship, if anything--but the Pope gets more out of it publicly, and Biden--owing to his deep Catholic faith (and it is deep) -- gets something out of it PERSONALLY.
Biden has nothing to "prove" here--the Pope can't help him get a better job. If anything, he helps the Pope by making people aware that the Vatican is on the "cancer case" too.