Bullet proof glass...

[SHRED]

..., police, and hundreds of other security personnel for the Pope's visit. In light of all this I've got to ask...has he no faith?
I guess he trusts in his Lord only up to a point.

[TexasProgresive]

1. Are you saying he asked for all that security?

I don't think so. I think it it our people because they know it is more likely for a wacko American to try to kill him them a Cuban communist.

[tblue37]

2. Oh, right--because NO ONE has ever tried to assassinate a pope--right? nt

[Gidney N Cloyd]

3. "Lord, why didn't you protect me?"

"I GAVE you the BULLET PROOF glass!"

[yeoman6987]

4. I am glad they are going all out

He is a head of state and deserves it. I guess you don't think our president needs security measures overseas?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

6. It's a little twist on a very old joke, dude. I'm glad there will be plenty of security provided.

[yeoman6987]

7. I am sorry. I went off the rails.

I sincerely apologize.

[branford]

5. Exactly.

Last edited Mon Sep 21, 2015, 02:38 AM - Edit history (1)

The Pope has ample faith that the Lord will provide.

Through us, his humble servants, the Lord has provided abundant security, including bullet-proof glass and thousands of law enforcement personnel and equipment.

Besides, God helps those who help themselves.

[bvf]

8. Pope facts.

http://www.theonion.com/graphic/primer-pope-francis-views-51344

This seemed as good a place as any...

[trillion]

9. first he understands he's a man, not God. 2nd, the last pope was shot back in the 80's, the popes

should take care not to be shot.

[A HERETIC I AM]

10. Chronological list of Popes murdered;

Stephen VI (896–897): Strangled[11]
Stephen VIII/(IX) (939–942): Mutilated[citation needed]
John XII (955–964): Presumed murdered
Benedict VI (973–974): Strangled[12]
John XIV (983–984): Either by starvation, ill-treatment or direct murder[13]
Gregory V (996–999): Poisoned[citation needed]


Chronological list of popes who are alleged to have been murdered

John VIII (872–882): Allegedly poisoned and then clubbed to death[14]
Adrian III (884–885): Allegedly poisoned[citation needed]
Leo V (903): Allegedly strangled[15]
John X (914–928): Allegedly smothered with pillow[16]
Stephen VII/(VIII) (929–931): Allegedly murdered[citation needed]
Sergius IV (1009–1012): Allegedly murdered[citation needed]
Clement II (1046–1047): Allegedly poisoned[17]
Damasus II (1048): Allegedly murdered[citation needed]
John XXI (1276-1277): While visiting the construction of a church, the roof collapsed on him, leading to conspiracy theories
Celestine V (1294, died 1296): Held captive and allegedly murdered after his abdication, by order of his successor, Pope Boniface VIII[18]
Boniface VIII (1294–1303): Death possibly (though unlikely) from the effects of ill-treatment one month before[19]
Benedict XI (1304–1305): Allegedly poisoned; no evidence provided[citation needed]
Pius XI (1922-1939): Allegedly (though unlikely), in connection with his doctor's having been the father of Benito Mussolini's mistress
John Paul I (1978): Death just 33 days after Papal election led to conspiracy theories[20]

Seems they don't get shot very often at all!


From good ol' Wikipedia;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_murdered_popes

[branford]

11. That's a pretty big gap from 1305 to 1939 (or 1978),

although I nevertheless fully support ample security for visiting dignitaries, religious and secular.

[bluedigger]

22. Security got noticeably better after the Swiss Guard took over in the late 15th century.

The Popes have been realistic for centuries about the need to protect themselves.

[roody]

12. Hey this is America. The gun is king.

[melm00se]

16. the last Pope to be shot at

was shot in St Peter's Square.

but then again, you knew that

[Eleanors38]

21. I hear the Vatican Square shooter was paid by the NRA!! Heard it on DU!

[Codeine]

25. How many Popes have been shot by Americans? nt

[pinboy3niner]

13. Pope Francis probably has as much to fear from inside the Vatican as outside

Change is hard, and some are very determined to resist.

[SHRED]

14. Tongue in cheek

I realize protection is needed yet on some level it seems silly to me the claim of an all powerful God. If God was that powerful and the Pope was that close to God as believed then why doesn't God protect him supernaturally without man's help?
I know I'm being sarcastic and unrealistic but to me there is a sliver of truth to what I say.

[Orrex]

15. It's the same reason that churches have fire alarms and they lock their doors at night

[Glassunion]

17. It depends on how you look at it I guess.

If God wants you to be safe, you'll be safe. That safety could come in any form, be it bullet proof glass, security details, etc... If your time is up and God wants to see you in his office, regardless of the security you have, you'll be there for the meeting.

[Orrex]

20. Of course, that's exactly how a god-free universe would look, too.

Occam's' Razor.

[panader0]

18. Epicuris:

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”

[LanternWaste]

19. Trusting in the Lord is quite a different matter than trusting people.

One imagines that trusting in the Lord is quite a different matter than trusting the free will of people.

However, I understand we all feel the desire to trivialize that which we do not wish to understand... regardless of how we may rationalize it as something else.

[KamaAina]

23. Google "Mehmet Ali Agca".

There's your answer.

[Rex]

24. Well...even the Pope knows God ain't going to stop a bullet whizzing in his direction.

The Pope has faith, but he ain't stupid! God works in indirect ways...not 'jump in the line of fire' ways.