The Pope stopped to shake the hand of only one as he walked down the aisle...

[Drunken Irishman]

[spanone]

1. K&R...

[roguevalley]

17. protocol to a head of state

[Motown_Johnny]

33. But Kerry was refused communion

when running for President because he is pro choice.


Now the Pope stops to shake his hand.

[sybylla]

34. A new Pope makes all the difference. nt

[Baitball Blogger]

37. THIS new pope makes all the difference.

Hi sybylla!

[lunatica]

60. Maybe that's why the Pope stopped to shake his hand

I think Pope Francis gladly reinstates John Kerry.

[bklyncowgirl]

99. I'd like to think it's a signal to the culture warriors in the church.

It may be wishful thinking but his holiness seems to be the master of the grand gesture.

[ImaPolitico]

114. According to Daily Kos...

"It's significant because not only did John Kerry negotiate the Iran nuclear deal, he's a practicing Catholic and has long been a target for conservative Catholics over his pro-choice position. Many sought to have him excommunicated:"

[TrollBuster9090]

96. So, I wonder if THIS Pope will start denying communion to politicians who vote to cut foodstamps

and filibuster carbon emissions control bills?

I doubt it. He's got too much class. Way more than most of the American arch bishops that did that to Kerry.

[rug]

108. Never in his home parish. It was that idiot Burke in his diocese threatening it.

Guess what?

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/12/18/pope-francis-demotes-cardinal-who-denied-john-kerry-communion/

[progree]

115. I don't think it's got anything to do with Kerry's pro-choice position - that's still a negative in

the papal mind, apparently:

Pope visits U.S. nuns involved in Obamacare contraception lawsuit, 9/24/15

http://news.yahoo.com/pope-visits-u-nuns-involved-obamacare-contraception-lawsuit-021905130.html

Pope Francis on Wednesday made an unscheduled stop to a convent of nuns to show his support for their lawsuit against U.S. President Barack Obama's healthcare law.

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the visit to the convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor for what he called a "brief but symbolic visit."

Last August, a federal appeals court in Denver put on hold its ruling that the order of Roman Catholic nuns must comply with a contraception mandate in the law, giving the group time to petition the U.S. Supreme Court.

.. The Sisters argued that the law forces them to provide insurance coverage for their employees to support contraception and sterilization services in violation of their religious beliefs, or face steep fines.

(the Sisters don't have to pay for the insurance, all they have to do is notify the federal government that they are opting out of the requirement, and then a 3rd party or their insurer pays for it. But the Sisters argue that even providing an opt-out notification makes them complicit in providing sterilization and contraceptive coverage)

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

118. Cardinal Burke said that he would refuse to give communion to Kerry

If Kerry came to him for it during Mass. The actual situation never arose.

[jeff47]

67. Kerry isn't the head of state.

Kerry is the head of the state department, but the President is our country's head of state.

[Enthusiast]

69. Maybe the Pope is aware that Kerry won the 2004 presidential election. He very well might be.

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[YvonneCa]

71. ...

... 😉 🇺🇸

[mylye2222]

73. K n R!!!!!!!

[jeff47]

75. Then his second term would have ended in 2012.

But thanks for the chuckle.

[Joe Chi Minh]

81. He'd still be called, 'Mr President'.

[Bucky]

90. As would President Edwards

Just think about that for a second.

[cui bono]

92. Huh?

[Bucky]

109. John Edwards. Kerry's VP running mate. Have you really forgotten him?

He would've spent 8 years as the heir apparent.

[cui bono]

110. Wow. Yeah, I did forget he was the running mate!

When did we find out about the scandal then?

[Bucky]

120. Right after he dropped out of the Obama-Clinton shoot out in 2008. Before the election tho, I think

[Beartracks]

79. Of course not. But the Pope is.

He's head of state of Vatican City.

============

[jeff47]

87. Yes, but the poster I replied to seemed to be saying Kerry was a head of state. (nt)

[roguevalley]

112. I must not have been clear. Protocol to a head of state. Head diplomat greets

head of state, the pope.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

119. I know that Pope Francis and Kerry have met before

And it's quite possible that Kerry is the only person in the chamber -- or, at least, on the aisle -- that he did recognize.

[mcar]

2. I noticed that too

pope showed John Roberts his back.

[Stinky The Clown]

13. Do you think he actually knows who Roberts (or any other "villian") is?

Why would he know any of our notables? He does this sort of thing in lots of other countries, too. Soon enough, all politicians start to look alike.

[mcar]

18. He's pretty savvy

And seems to have a good PR team. But perhaps not.

[Stinky The Clown]

20. Respectfully, it is, at best, wishful thinking.

I can not imagine any circumstance under which he would "show his back" to any nation's highest jurist.

He is on a mission of peace, after all.

[w0nderer]

30. I'm quite sure

that just like any savvy politician (and yes he is one)
and head of state (yes, the pope is one), he gets 'intelligence briefing papers on opposition and people he will encounter'

the church used to (middle ages) have the largest intelligence network out there and they always were good at behind the scenes soft power

[Stinky The Clown]

31. Should I interpet your comment as saying the pope intentionally turned his back to Roberts?

[w0nderer]

35. you probably should not interpret at all

you would be advised (i'm not going to tell you what to do) to realize that someone like the pope
has intelligence information on all people he meets and probably makes up his mind on them

[Stinky The Clown]

39. Thanks for sharing a snippet of your obviously vast knowledge of how this pope operates

I'll chalk you up for assuming there was an intentional snub.

I reserve the right to roll my eyes.

Have a swell day; respond or not as you wish. The last word is yours if that makes you feel good.

[alcibiades_mystery]

64. Do unto others...

[madokie]

50. i'd bet money he knows exactly what he's doing

and exactly whose who where he goes. I know I have the capacity to do that. No reason to think this Pope doesn't also.

I'm a non religious person so the Pope to me is just another person, nothing special.

[jmowreader]

56. Briefibg books

Governments keep books with pictures and bios of the leadership of every other country. If Angela Merkel wants to visit the US and talk to the energy secretary, the briefing book will have his pic, the names of his kids, the school he went to...knowing these things will make it easier to talk to him.

[w0nderer]

62. people don't want to hear the truth about real politik (unfortunately) n/t

[lunatica]

61. Well, he's pretty savvy so why not?

Why assume that no one knows our politicians? It's not like it's something we keep secret from the world. Maybe Pope Francis does his homework when visiting other countries. Most Heads of State do.

[JI7]

72. i think he knows since those concerned with US politics

Would know significance of the supreme court. Particularly on issues like abortion gay rights religion.

[karynnj]

77. Well he and the other three SCJs wore robes - which kind of set them apart.

I think it was a very intentional honor - a handshake that protocol did not require. This meant it was very deliberate. Note his words - that apply both to Obama and Kerry - that were about Iran and Cuba. Note that another thing he spoke very very strongly on is climate change - and again Kerry was very instrumental on the pact with China. There is no reason to diminish the honor that the Pope gave Kerry in shaking his hand.

[maxsolomon]

89. Because Kerry is SoS

the day-to-day diplomatic face of our nation.

he's not a "politician", he's a diplomat.

[TrollBuster9090]

100. Do you think he'll threaten to ex-communicate Scalia for trying to take peoples' healthcare away?

Doubt it. He's way too classy for that.

Justice Antonin Scalia (not exactly as shown)

[mcar]

103. Doubt it too

I think this guy is far more subtle than his ham-handed cardinals.

[treestar]

3. Is that Kerry?

[bigwillq]

5. Yes (nt)

[TrollBuster9090]

101. It's Fred Gwynne. I'm not sure who invited him, though. Maybe Obama was a fan of The Munsters?

(Sorry, I couldn't resist! )

[rpannier]

104. What's a Yute?

One of my five favorite movie moments

Sadly, he passed too early at 66
He was an illustrator of children's books
And married the granddaughter of NY City Mayor William Gaynor

Interesting and talented man

[TrollBuster9090]

105. Yes, absolutely! :) nt

[treestar]

121. lol!

There is a bit of a resemblance there!

[Glimmer of Hope]

4. Oh - that is really sweet.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. It is possible that is because he knows Kerry, but no one else, reasonably well

I doubt he would intentionally ignore anyone.

[geardaddy]

7. That's a good explanation. n/t

[Fla Dem]

26. That's what I thought as well. nt

[Fred Sanders]

8. Kerry negotiating the most significant peace pact in decades deserves some more notice.

[Person 2713]

23. +1

[randys1]

52. Of course, this is why the Pope would go out of his way, if he had to, to shake that hand

If we werent such a huge stinking pile of RACIST GARBAGE in this country, we would all be celebrating the Iran deal as if our very fucking lives depended on it.

But we are too stupid to do that.

Pope knows how big this is.

Unlike most of the assholes in that room, or the cons in that room, the Pope is an informed, intelligent and concerned person.

but he MUST evolve on Gay rights and Women's rights

[Enthusiast]

70. +1!

[karynnj]

12. I think they only met once at the Vatican

When Obama went to the the Vatican. Kerry has spoken often with the cardinal who is their foreign minister.

[UTUSN]

15. Since I'm merely human, I took pleasure that he passed by John ROBERTS without missing a beat

As for the KERRY handshake, well he *is* the SoS, the top spot in the cabinet and the keynote spot of the aisle, leaving aside the non-official consideration of his being a Catholic.

[gateley]

16. Agree, Stinky. I don't think he'd intentionally turn his

back on anybody. I sure would, but this man seems to be truly non-judgmental.

And I agree that he probably knows Kerry. They were saying that the members were instructed not to reach out, to touch, to speak to the Pope as he entered the chamber. And they also said whatever the Pope wants to do, he does, and I think that's what we saw.

[TNNurse]

27. I agree.

It is silly to think that he would recognize John Roberts, he had met Kerry.

John Roberts is not an international figure....John Kerry is.

Silly Americans, we are not the center of the Universe.

[hamsterjill]

43. I would tend to agree.

Wasn't it Kerry or Kerry's office that was overseeing the coordination for Pope Francis's visit? Or Kerry's office was, at least, involved in the very beginning stages. I think Francis recognized Kerry and shook hands.

Francis may very well be aware that Kerry was denied communion because of his pro choice words and Francis may very well have taken Kerry's hand publicly to illustrate the theme of his speech today because I do think that Francis is politically astute, but I don't think Francis made any type of public shunning of Roberts. He just happened to be turned that direction.

[No Vested Interest]

86. Agree. nt

[WinkyDink]

98. This is, of course, the reason. Some people will pick on anything.

[karynnj]

9. that was really nice and it was clearly the Pope

Who initiated the hand shake. He also later shook hands with Biden and Boehner.

[chillfactor]

10. Great moment I thought...

and his back to Roberts...LOL!!!!

[bunnies]

11. Congress was instructed to NOT touch The Pope.

That might have something to do with it.

"Out of respect for the pope's schedule and the expectation of a timely address, we respectfully request that you assist us by refraining from handshakes and conversations along and down the center aisle," said the letter said, signed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/congressional-leaders-tell-lawmakers-no-touching-pope-francis/

[roguevalley]

14. protocol most likely as sec of state welcoming

A head of state

[PoliticAverse]

19. Note that there was a specific effort made to prevent members from interacting with the Pope...

http://www3.blogs.rollcall.com/hawkings/members-will-be-blocked-two-ways-from-touching-pope-francis/?MKD

[SCVDem]

21. The Cuba treaty.

Kerry worked with the Vatican.

[JI7]

74. yes both the Obama admin and catholic church wanted open relations with Cuba again

[LannyDeVaney]

22. Congress was told ..

to not reach out towards him and to "be on their best behavior". Each person sitting in the aisle seat was a "hall monitor" to keep the idiots from acting badly and reaching out or taking pictures.

I can't believe how politicized the media is turning the visit. It's the Pope, and the media focus is on Red vs Blue. It's pathetic. This was his only visit to the US and you can bet it will be his last.

[karynnj]

25. however, the Pope initiated the hand shake

That is very different than if JK had. I am sure it is an honor he very much appreciated.

[YvonneCa]

54. Agree. And it was really nice to...

...see. 🇺🇸

[Facility Inspector]

57. This country has no class

even Reagan and Tip O'Neill worked together on shit.

[nolabear]

58. I don't know who you're watching. I've seen just the opposite.

Even MSNBC was kind toward John Boehner's emotions. As I'm listening, I'm hearing pundits saying "Let's see where this goes. For now let's let the Pope's words carry the day."

[Stellar]

24. The Pope is here to speak peace to congress...

Netanyahu......

[George II]

28. I noticed that - and was impressed!

[KansDem]

29. The two share a common ground. Both speak French.

Perhaps the Pope heard Kerry's eight-minute speech to the French people in 2013. That might have impressed him since Americans have a reputation for expecting all world citizens to speak American.

[olegramps]

59. American? What native language do you speak. Just kiddng you a little.

[rateyes]

32. Knowing that Cardinal Burke denied Kerry communion

when Kerry was running for POTUS this is particularly sweet! Glad the pope denounced Burke.

[Omaha Steve]

36. Great choice!

K&R!

OS

[lostnfound]

38. "God Bless America"

Sounded different to my ears than it usually does.

[NonMetro]

40. So, shall We Now Sing Our Praises To This Pope As The Media Is Doing?

Shall we now join in this glorious moment in honor of this man who just told our congress that human life need to be protected at "every stage of development"; who said marriage needed to be protected because it was "threatened" as never before (a clear reference to gay marriage); and who praised "Saint" Dorothy Day - she died in 1980 - who who said gaining pleasure from sex was "demonic"?

Now, before anyone jumps all over me for raining on the big parade - and it really is a big parade! - this staged event was political, and therefore subject to critique just like any other political event staged by the Republican Party. And the Pope did not appear as "head of state" - that's propaganda, too- living on 100 acres in Rome with 450 fellow Catholics does not make a "state".

If the Pope can preach to our congress, the rest of us are free to take issue with what he says - and we don't have to sit around like those phonies in congress did and give him our polite applause.

This was a political event staged by the Republican Party. I didn't like it, and I'm now inclined to wonder about the Popes motives - and this bears no reflection on my Catholic friends n this country. This was a cynical use of religion by the GOP.

[dakota_democrat]

45. The right trashes 90% of what the pope says, so they decided to let him guest speak?

[randys1]

55. Yes he MUST evolve on Gay rights & Women's rights if he wants

to be remembered as a truly great man.

[Johnyawl]

41. Blessed are the peacemakers...

...for they shall be called the children of God.

Cuba, Iran; Kerry has labored hard for our President in the pursuit of peace and deserved that singular honor.

[Gothmog]

42. This was very appropriate thing for the Pope to do

He and Sec. Kerry worked together for peace

[valerief]

44. Who on DU wouldn't turn their back on John Roberts, given the chance? nt

[senz]

66. Indeed. John Roberts is a tool of the oligarchy.

Not exactly Francis' favorite people.

[Duval]

46. K&R eom

[Gman]

47. The very same man

The extremists said should be denied communion in 2004.

[Xyzse]

48. This actually makes me quite happy.

I have never been as ardent a supporter to any Presidential candidate as I was for Kerry.

Glad to see this, particularly due to the denying communion debacle around his time running for President.

[TeamPooka]

49. The Chosen One. nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

51. This is a hell of a visual for the Iran deal.

[senz]

63. Good point. n/t

[Scurrilous]

76. Blessed are the peacemakers and whatnot...

[Johnny2X2X]

53. Liberal Jesus

As a former Christian, I loved seeing the Pope preach to the Republicans about the 99% of the Gospels they choose to ignore.

As an atheist, Jesus was a flaming liberal. He was born into poverty, lived his whole life in poverty, and spent all of his time and teaching talking about helping those in poverty. How the Right has tried to claim him as being on their side is a great mystery.

[senz]

65. Happy to see him shake Kerry's hand

especially since Kerry had previously been refused communion for being pro-choice.

But...I'd kinda hoped Francis would acknowledge Bernie, since Bernie's message on crucial issues -- income inequality, the suffering of the poor, and climate change -- is so close to his own. But yes, he's probably not hooked into our politics, and Bernie was probably not seated close enough to get his attention.

Oh well. Good for Kerry, anyway.

[Fearless]

68. People need to remember he is a political leader

And this was a political visit

[karynnj]

78. To Secretary Kerry and millions of others, he is also a spiritual leader

His political power comes entirely from respect given to him from people around the world - Catholic or not.

[Fearless]

80. The point is, he approves of the Iran deal, that's why Kerry was singled out

The church has been doing this politics thing for more than a millennia. They know what they're doing. And it ain't a religious thing.

[karynnj]

83. I agree - and you can throw in the work Kerry did on the climate pact with China and on Cuba

If you want throw in his work that resulted in the elimination of over 600 tons of chemical weapons in unstable Syria.

My point was that the Pope is also a spiritual leader to millions --- and our Secretary of State has not hesitated to speak of that. http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027199900

Obviously the reason the Pope shook his hand was the work that he has done that the Pope agrees with. I was not implying that it was because Kerry - like many people in the room - is Catholic.

[leveymg]

84. Do you know if Cong Fr. Robert Drinan met the future Pope Francis in Argentina?

I interned in Father Drinan's DC office during his last term in Congress. Earlier in his House career, future Senator Kerry was his campaign manager and they were close.

At some point, not sure when, Cong. Drinan traveled to Argentina on a human rights mission. Any idea if Fr. Drinan met with or had any relationship with Fr. Bergoglio?

Thanks.

[karynnj]

85. Interesting, but I have no idea whether Drinan ever met the Pope

I know that Kerry and Drinan stayed close -- because Drinan was even a 2004 adviser.

It must have been incredible interning in Drinan's office. A niece of mine took a class from Drinan at Georgetown Law School - I think around 2005. She was incredibly impressed by him as a teacher and person.

[leveymg]

91. It was actually a very sad time for him.

Bob Drinan was under mounting pressure from the Vatican and conservative American Bishops to resign from Congress. My job in Drinan's office was largely to clip editorials in the National Catholic Reporter and America magazine attacking him for his pro-choice stance and his defense of Latin American clerics who had embraced Liberation Theology. A lot of what found its way into mainstream Catholic press was really hateful, and I didn't enjoy reading and delivering those clippings to him.

It wasn't easy being a leading progressive in a Church that was as polarized then as Congress is today.

Father Drinan was an amazingly courageous and upbeat human being. He had a strong faith that what he was doing was consistent with his duties to both institutions, but he was on a terribly high rope. There were a bunch of amazing people on Capitol Hill and among the progressive DC Catholics who worked with him. John Kerry was one of them. There still are. It was my honor to be there.

[Rex]

82. The man that should have been POTUS in 2004.

Boy did the BFEE do a number on this country! Our future generations will still be paying that check!

[MrMickeysMom]

116. Agreed...

Stole that one via Ohio just a little bit shy of the way Florida was used by the SCOTUS for steal in it in 2000

[JDPriestly]

88. K&R.

[ion_theory]

93. But the pope isn't supposed to be political. Even though he is the head of a state. n/t

[alfredo]

106. He's coming to those opinions from a moral source.

That is how he is framing those issues. It isn't the science he talks of, he talks of our own moral failings.

Income inequality/social injustice is a moral issue.

Pope Francis lived through the abuses of the "banana republics." He knows the suffering caused by a two tier system, and how they often end in violence.

[TrollBuster9090]

94. Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God."

Kerry qualifies.

[hibbing]

95. ugh...Kissinger in the second pew at St. Patricks

That war criminal should be in jail or at least confession instead of being in the second row at St. Patricks and shaking the pope's hand.


Peace

[flying_wahini]

97. Maybe the Pope recognized Kerry

[link:http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-meets-vatican-officials-on-middle-east-ahead-of-pope-visit/1830283.html|

They have met before over Middle East peacetalks.

[rpannier]

102. Gotta move quickly lest the demons jump from the republican side

and assault the Pope

[SylviaD]

107. Glad to see His Holiness getting some love here at DU! n/t

Frankly there has been anti-Catholic sentiment here in the past.

[JI7]

111. Kerry should become the next Pope

This was joked about before but from what people said as long as he could get the votes of those guys he would be eligible.

And then he can open up all parts of the church to women gays and others

[mackerel]

113. Wait you're not to take communion if you're pro-choice?

Oooooops

[lillypaddle]

117. K&R nt

[Cali_Democrat]

122. I LOVE this pic!

Thanks DI.

[mimi85]

123. Sorry for the late reply...

date and time wise. Rachel went into great detail about why the Pope probably stopped to shake Kerry's hand:

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/pope-francis-closes-scornful-catholic-chapter-531997763839