Did they hug and kiss?? That would have made the day! Neither did they hold hands! The pope, while looking just glum never permitted any other niceties, much less holding hands.
Fake people don’t surprise me anymore, real people do! And that may be the real reason of my utmost surprise and, I must say, indignation, at Pope Francis’ meeting with Donald Trump. What a farce! And what profit/credit did Trump get for it? Good propaganda mileage! Definitely, most Americans sided with Trump, as winning this battle, with the ‘New Yorker’ daringly asking whether the Scriptures were on Trump’s side!
On his third leg of his first foreign trip as president, Trump shortly and quickly decided that, after his trip to Israel, a trip to the Vatican seemed the natural way to conclude his whistle-stop tour of world religions, falsely calling for a fight against terrorism, while securing a $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, a country in the own words of Trump as “a major sponsor of terrorism,” employing brutal methods of reprisals. Quite bloody business-like, with Trump being a partner in their crimes.
It is understood that as a matter of policy, popes meet with any head of state who requests an audience, regardless of any differences they have. Such meetings allow for an exchange of views on world affairs and a chance for the pope to encourage ethical solutions to world problems. However, this could surely be termed as ‘an odd couple meeting’! As a matter of fact, this was unfortunately interpreted as ‘Trump vs the pope’ and a most challenging meeting for Trump.
The two men have diametrically opposing positions on immigration, refugees, climate change and unbridled capitalism. Trump called the pope’s criticism of his plan to build the Mexico wall “disgraceful.” Many Americans, doggedly and stupidly agreed!
Had this meeting had any positive and salutary outcome, it would definitely have made the visit worthwhile but it only served Trump to brag how he stood up to the pope.
Just imagine Trump, supporting international terrorism and contributing to its proliferation, while providing terrorists with media and financial support, shoulder to shoulder with and being hosted by dear Francis, continuously preaching and promoting peace and friendship.
Donald Trump’s meeting with the pope made the headlines for all the wrong reasons after a photo showed a grinning president standing next to a miserable-looking Francis. That melancholy look on his face speaks volumes and is all of us. He gets it and we feel it! Pope Francis is trying hard to avoid even the slightest hint of political support or endorsement. Maybe he is deliberately depriving them of a good photo op. I hope this is the case!
The Trumps are dressed in all black like omens of death, destruction and famine. Yes, that might be the dress code but the looks on their faces plus their general evilness really creates a narrative of the plague. Meanwhile, the pope is looking like he’s just there so he doesn’t get fined and deeply hoping that this evil would eventually be vanquished. Beyond the pageantry, the photographs and the cultural culinary jokes, the meeting of the two leaders is significant, but with their utterly different understandings on how to tackle global problems, it might not move beyond symbolism.
After Pope Francis deplored the dropping of the new gigantic bomb on Afghanistan, perhaps few noted the clear reminder on the only ever-dropped atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States. Different instances, same people! Well, definitely in this case, the pope’s silence spoke millions!
“The new pope is a humble man, very much like me, which probably explains why I like him so much!” Self-praise is no recommendation, Mr. Trump! The fakest people are the ones that brag about being real.
Yes, the United States is slaughtering civilians by the thousands in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, and there is something ridiculously hypocritical about professing standards that prevent selling weapons to a government that uses them to kill civilians, while the United States has also been caught dropping illegal chemical weapons on other countries. No, there is no proper moral way to conduct the campaigns of mass-murder known as wars so that worthy recipients of war weapons can be distinguished from Saudi Arabia and other unworthy ones. Many in our world are complicit, silent and corrupt in the crimes of the Western nations.
Ironically, following this meeting, Trump declared that he is “more determined than ever “ to pursue peace . Hypocrite! Whom does he think he is kidding? Immediately back in Europe (in Brussels for talks with NATO), he chides European nations for not spending enough on military armaments. While, billions are spent on war and military, austerity continues to hit our public services. If you’re not intending to attack somebody, why are you increasing your military might at the cost of human welfare?
“Honor of a lifetime to meet His Holiness Pope Francis. I leave the Vatican more determined than ever to pursue PEACE in our world.” As the meeting came to a conclusion and Mr Trump turned to leave, he told the pope: “We can use peace!” and “Thank you, thank you. I won’t forget what you said.” How I hate two-faced people. It’s so hard to decide which face to slap first. Some people are real, some people are good, some people are fake and some people are really good at being fake!
Despite the heavy police presence, a host of protesters held a rally in one of Rome’s squares on Tuesday evening and much stronger significant protests were also held in Brussels. It is evidently clear that there are people who can still think and act, unlike here in Malta, where most, especially the younger generation, are too busy entertaining themselves to bother about any anti-war protests or any other serious matters.
Left-oriented grassroots movements have beaten a path to the pope’s door—and often found it open. On various occasions, he met representatives of what he calls “popular movements,” including anti-globalisation groups. On the last such visit, a few days before the U.S. elections, he urged them to step further into the political arena.
The pope, a staunch opponent of the innumerable US-led wars, applauded all peace initiatives and institutions working against what he termed as “the din of arms.”
Dear pope, what was the result of your strong lobbying for a peaceful solution before the Iraq war? Absolutely nothing, and Iraq was razed to the ground. What makes you think that now this meeting would result differently? It is said that insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, and expecting different results!
And now how do popular peace movements view this meeting? Doesn’t this show how religion can be bent to suit the powerful, as such cordial meetings with bad leaders simply indicate approval? After all, the pope himself declared that Trump is ‘not even Christian’. You could have been much more sincere by refusing such meeting, dear Francis! What support would peace organisations derive from this meeting?
Should such international peace organisations as Ban the Bomb, World beyond War, Stop the War, Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Labour and Students Against the War, Not in Our Name and innumerable other anti-war activists feel equally credited and ‘at par’ in Christian outlook as the American president, in spite of their decades of suffering intimidation and repression? If the pope didn’t enjoy this meeting, what was it in aid of, then?
The pope is no ostrich with his head in the sand, while his understanding is well over normal and there is no doubt of his deep perception. This is a pope who just gave a talk on how people in power need to use it to serve the poor. But how can the wolf and the sheep ever work together?
Aren’t we past the point of entreating, pleading and innocent referrals, my friend? I don’t believe it’s too late to start taking the bull by the horns, dear Francis and also that the time of ‘name and shame’ is more than overdue now?
Their meeting turned into a hilarious meme with many wondering how the pope could end in this funny situation. Well, at least, I’m sure, we all took them as ‘jolly good fellows’?
I strongly believe that Pope Francis finally found something he hates about his job and honestly doubts what good manners are there to agree to receive someone you don’t like!
Joseph M. Cachia, resides in Malta and is a freelance journalist Contact him at jmcachia@maltanet.net.
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For they are jolly good fellows!
‘I have discovered the art of deceiving diplomats. I speak the truth, and they never believe me.’
Posted on August 17, 2017 by Joseph M. Cachia
Did they hug and kiss?? That would have made the day! Neither did they hold hands! The pope, while looking just glum never permitted any other niceties, much less holding hands.
Fake people don’t surprise me anymore, real people do! And that may be the real reason of my utmost surprise and, I must say, indignation, at Pope Francis’ meeting with Donald Trump. What a farce! And what profit/credit did Trump get for it? Good propaganda mileage! Definitely, most Americans sided with Trump, as winning this battle, with the ‘New Yorker’ daringly asking whether the Scriptures were on Trump’s side!
On his third leg of his first foreign trip as president, Trump shortly and quickly decided that, after his trip to Israel, a trip to the Vatican seemed the natural way to conclude his whistle-stop tour of world religions, falsely calling for a fight against terrorism, while securing a $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, a country in the own words of Trump as “a major sponsor of terrorism,” employing brutal methods of reprisals. Quite bloody business-like, with Trump being a partner in their crimes.
It is understood that as a matter of policy, popes meet with any head of state who requests an audience, regardless of any differences they have. Such meetings allow for an exchange of views on world affairs and a chance for the pope to encourage ethical solutions to world problems. However, this could surely be termed as ‘an odd couple meeting’! As a matter of fact, this was unfortunately interpreted as ‘Trump vs the pope’ and a most challenging meeting for Trump.
The two men have diametrically opposing positions on immigration, refugees, climate change and unbridled capitalism. Trump called the pope’s criticism of his plan to build the Mexico wall “disgraceful.” Many Americans, doggedly and stupidly agreed!
Had this meeting had any positive and salutary outcome, it would definitely have made the visit worthwhile but it only served Trump to brag how he stood up to the pope.
Just imagine Trump, supporting international terrorism and contributing to its proliferation, while providing terrorists with media and financial support, shoulder to shoulder with and being hosted by dear Francis, continuously preaching and promoting peace and friendship.
Donald Trump’s meeting with the pope made the headlines for all the wrong reasons after a photo showed a grinning president standing next to a miserable-looking Francis. That melancholy look on his face speaks volumes and is all of us. He gets it and we feel it! Pope Francis is trying hard to avoid even the slightest hint of political support or endorsement. Maybe he is deliberately depriving them of a good photo op. I hope this is the case!
After Pope Francis deplored the dropping of the new gigantic bomb on Afghanistan, perhaps few noted the clear reminder on the only ever-dropped atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States. Different instances, same people! Well, definitely in this case, the pope’s silence spoke millions!
“The new pope is a humble man, very much like me, which probably explains why I like him so much!” Self-praise is no recommendation, Mr. Trump! The fakest people are the ones that brag about being real.
Yes, the United States is slaughtering civilians by the thousands in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, and there is something ridiculously hypocritical about professing standards that prevent selling weapons to a government that uses them to kill civilians, while the United States has also been caught dropping illegal chemical weapons on other countries. No, there is no proper moral way to conduct the campaigns of mass-murder known as wars so that worthy recipients of war weapons can be distinguished from Saudi Arabia and other unworthy ones. Many in our world are complicit, silent and corrupt in the crimes of the Western nations.
Ironically, following this meeting, Trump declared that he is “more determined than ever “ to pursue peace . Hypocrite! Whom does he think he is kidding? Immediately back in Europe (in Brussels for talks with NATO), he chides European nations for not spending enough on military armaments. While, billions are spent on war and military, austerity continues to hit our public services. If you’re not intending to attack somebody, why are you increasing your military might at the cost of human welfare?
“Honor of a lifetime to meet His Holiness Pope Francis. I leave the Vatican more determined than ever to pursue PEACE in our world.” As the meeting came to a conclusion and Mr Trump turned to leave, he told the pope: “We can use peace!” and “Thank you, thank you. I won’t forget what you said.” How I hate two-faced people. It’s so hard to decide which face to slap first. Some people are real, some people are good, some people are fake and some people are really good at being fake!
Despite the heavy police presence, a host of protesters held a rally in one of Rome’s squares on Tuesday evening and much stronger significant protests were also held in Brussels. It is evidently clear that there are people who can still think and act, unlike here in Malta, where most, especially the younger generation, are too busy entertaining themselves to bother about any anti-war protests or any other serious matters.
Left-oriented grassroots movements have beaten a path to the pope’s door—and often found it open. On various occasions, he met representatives of what he calls “popular movements,” including anti-globalisation groups. On the last such visit, a few days before the U.S. elections, he urged them to step further into the political arena.
The pope, a staunch opponent of the innumerable US-led wars, applauded all peace initiatives and institutions working against what he termed as “the din of arms.”
Dear pope, what was the result of your strong lobbying for a peaceful solution before the Iraq war? Absolutely nothing, and Iraq was razed to the ground. What makes you think that now this meeting would result differently? It is said that insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, and expecting different results!
And now how do popular peace movements view this meeting? Doesn’t this show how religion can be bent to suit the powerful, as such cordial meetings with bad leaders simply indicate approval? After all, the pope himself declared that Trump is ‘not even Christian’. You could have been much more sincere by refusing such meeting, dear Francis! What support would peace organisations derive from this meeting?
Should such international peace organisations as Ban the Bomb, World beyond War, Stop the War, Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Labour and Students Against the War, Not in Our Name and innumerable other anti-war activists feel equally credited and ‘at par’ in Christian outlook as the American president, in spite of their decades of suffering intimidation and repression? If the pope didn’t enjoy this meeting, what was it in aid of, then?
The pope is no ostrich with his head in the sand, while his understanding is well over normal and there is no doubt of his deep perception. This is a pope who just gave a talk on how people in power need to use it to serve the poor. But how can the wolf and the sheep ever work together?
Aren’t we past the point of entreating, pleading and innocent referrals, my friend? I don’t believe it’s too late to start taking the bull by the horns, dear Francis and also that the time of ‘name and shame’ is more than overdue now?
Their meeting turned into a hilarious meme with many wondering how the pope could end in this funny situation. Well, at least, I’m sure, we all took them as ‘jolly good fellows’?
I strongly believe that Pope Francis finally found something he hates about his job and honestly doubts what good manners are there to agree to receive someone you don’t like!
Joseph M. Cachia, resides in Malta and is a freelance journalist Contact him at jmcachia@maltanet.net.