The political power of the pope

Consider This from NPR

NPR

Society & Culture, News, Daily News, News Commentary

4.1 • 5.3K Ratings

🗓️ 3 March 2025

⏱️ 13 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Unlike any other religious leader around the world, the leader of the world's one billion Catholics is also the leader of a sovereign nation. And Pope Francis hasn't been shy about using that political power.

He's pushed for an end to the wars between Hamas and Israel, and Russia and Ukraine.

And he's repeatedly tried to point the world's attention to two ongoing challenges: immigration and climate change.

Much of the world has spent the last two weeks focused on Pope Francis' health. And the reason why has as much to do with the fact that he's a powerful geopolitical force as it does with the fact he's a key religious figure.

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Email us at [email protected].

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Fraterlli and sisters,
0:02.8	Jesus Christ is risen.
0:05.5	He alone has the power to roll away the stone that block the path of life.
0:11.9	That's Pope Francis, speaking last Easter from the St. Peter's balcony overlooking Vatican Square.
0:16.9	He was delivering an Irby at Orby, his Easter blessing.
0:20.3	The moment and the setting encapsulates the thousands of years of ritual and pageantry
0:25.0	associated with the Catholic Church.
0:26.9	Annunce your robes, gaudium magnum.
0:31.4	Abemus Papa.
0:32.7	The balcony of the ornate St. Peter's Basilica is the same spot where some 12 years ago,
0:41.7	Jorge Mario Burgolio was introduced to the world as Pope Francis I, the first.
0:50.7	But that setting also regularly showcases another aspect of the role Francis and his predecessors have played, world leader.
0:53.2	In calling for respect for the principles of international law,
0:59.5	I express my hope for a general exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine.
1:06.8	All for the sake of all.
1:09.6	That's another moment from Francis's March 24 Easter blessing,
1:13.0	as war raged between Ukraine and Russia, Hamas and Israel.
1:17.2	I appeal once again access to humanitarian aid,
1:22.7	be ensured to Gaza,
1:26.2	and call once more for the prompt release of the hostages,
1:32.3	seized on 7 October last and for an immediate ceasefire in the strip.
1:38.9	Francis hasn't just focused on war, though.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from NPR, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of NPR and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.