Pope Francis Revolution - Europe's Destiny Is Multicultural

Prophets foretelling the future are not recognized in their lifetime …

“As a very old man, Daniel lived to see the fall of Babylon.
King Cyrus overthrew the city just as the prophets had foretold.”

Interview Pope Francis | LaCroix – May 17, 2016 |

– In your speeches in Europe, you refer to the “roots” of the continent without ever describing them as Christian. Rather, you define “European identity” as “dynamic and multicultural.” In your view, is the expression “Christian roots” inappropriate for Europe?

Pope Francis: We need to speak of roots in the plural because there are so many. In this sense, when I hear talk of the Christian roots of Europe, I sometimes dread the tone, which can seem triumphalist or even vengeful. It then takes on colonialist overtones. John Paul II, however, spoke about it in a tranquil manner.

Yes, Europe has Christian roots and it is Christianity’s responsibility to water those roots. But this must be done in a spirit of service as in the washing of the feet. Christianity’s duty to Europe is one of service and the gift of life. It must not become a colonial enterprise.

Pope Francis: the Idea of Europe and the end of the Charlemagne era

Pope Francis received the prestigious Charlemagne Prize May 6, 2016. In his discourse he cited the great Jesuit theologian Erich Przywara, teacher of Hans Urs von Balthasar and author of the essay Idee Europa [The Idea of Europe] ^[1] Citing L’idea di Europa, that he knows well, Francis reveals his conviction, which was that of the Jesuit theologian: we are at the end of the Constantinian epoch and the experiment of Charlemagne. It is interesting, therefore, that the Pope quotes Przywara precisely in this Carolinian context.

«Christendom», that is that process started with Constantine in which he implements an organic bond between culture, politics, institutions and the Church, is concluding. Przywara — together with the Austrian historian Friedrich Heer ^[2] — is convinced that Europe was born and raised in relationship and in contraposition with the Sacrum Imperium, that has its own roots in the attempt by Charlemagne to organize the West as a totalitarian state.

This process is evaluated by Heer as «the possibility for the Church to resume the evangelical paths started by Francis of Assisi, Ignatius of Loyola and Teresa of Lisieux, breaking down the barriers that separated her from the poor to whom Christianity–in the theological political conjuncture of the various forms of Christianity–always appeared as an ideological policy –and the guarantee — of the dominant groups». ^[3]

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The Pope has confirmed his vision citing Przywara a few days after having received the prize, May 9, in an interview with the French daily La Croix. Questioned on why he speaks of the «European identity», the pontiff answers: «We need to speak of roots in the plural because there are so many. In this sense, when I hear talk of the Christian roots of Europe, I sometimes dread the tone, which can seem triumphalist or even vengeful. It then takes on colonialist overtones. John Paul II, however, spoke about it in a tranquil manner. Yes, Europe has Christian roots and it is Christianity’s responsibility to water those roots. But this must be done in a spirit of service as in the washing of the feet.

« click for more info Pope Francis Washes Feet of Inmates In Holy Thursday Ritual (2015)

Christianity’s duty to Europe is one of service. As Erich Przywara, the great master of Romano Guardini and Hans Urs von Balthasar, teaches us, Christianity’s contribution to a culture is that of Christ in the washing of the feet. In other words, service and the gift of life. It must not become a colonial enterprise».^[5]

With Przywara, Bergolio recognizes — precisely as is affirmed in the Letter to the Hebrews (13:13) — that Christians must «go outside of the camp to bring the outrage of Christ».^[6]And the Church must be in exit and never be a closed and excluding entity. She is to follow Christ outside of the wall of the holy city , where he died as an accursed man to be able to gather together the whole of humanity, even those who believed him accursed and abandoned by God (cfr Gal 3:13).

…
Here is, therefore, what the task of the Church should be, definitely post-Carolinian: to be in exit, going out and encountering the wounded. This is what Francis is doing, seeking thus to contribute to enlarging the soul of Europe.

Pope Francis warns of post-Brexit ‘walls in hearts’

More below the fold: America First .. Israel First .. joined by fascism.

America First, Israel First: the Lobby Loves Trump | Tikun Olam |

During the campaign, Trump began using a slogan that brought chills to the hearts of historians or those old enough to remember the raging anti-Semitism of Father Coughlin and Hitler apologists like Charles Lindbergh (who later changed his views after war was declared). The banner under which they marched was “America First.” So today’s inauguration speech brought echoes of the old xenophobia and racism of white-dominated 1930s America. Those were the days of the Ku Klux Klan. Of white sheets and cross-burnings in the dead of night. Of strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

« click for more info Charles Lindbergh addressing his America First followers

Of course, Donald Trump is no historian. But Steve Bannon is. At least enough to know what the slogan means. This is the low, soft dog whistle of hate that Donald Trump will offer us for the next four years. America first, America for the white man. If you’re Black (or any other color), get back. If you’re a Jew, especially the pinko liberal variety, Donald Trump will bring you nothing but gnashing of teeth. However, if you’re pro-Israel there’s hope. Trump will be the greatest friend Israel ever had. By the end of his term, Palestine will be a thing of the past. You will be one happy Zionist.

Of course there will be blood. People will suffer. But the main thing is that the blood will be Arab blood, not Israeli. Or at least mostly not Israeli. For Israelis are one of us. Part of that Judeo-Christian tradition we embrace. The Arabs? Not so much. And just you remember what we’re going to do to the bad ones:

We will…unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism,
which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth.

Note use of the term “Islamic terror.” Not Islamist. Because terror is by nature part of Islam, right? And how will he accomplish this task? By presidential decree, of course. He will slay them like Saint George in his fight to the death with the dragon.

Dutch mark Kristallnacht as Europe, US confront a wave of right-wing populism | JTA |

Don’t be fooled. Europe’s far-right racists are not discerning (March 2012) | The Guardian – Opinion |

Almost all European far-right parties have come up with the same toxic cocktail. The Dutch MP Geert Wilders, leader of the anti-immigrant Freedom party, has compared the Qur’an to Mein Kampf. In Tel Aviv in 2010, he declared that “Islam threatens not only Israel, Islam threatens the whole world. If Jerusalem falls today, Athens and Rome, Amsterdam and Paris will fall tomorrow.”

Meanwhile Filip Dewinter, leader of Belgium’s Vlaams Belang party, which grew out of the Vlaams Blok Flemish nationalist party, many of whose members collaborated with the Nazis during the second world war, has proposed a quota on the number of young Belgian-born Muslims allowed in public swimming pools. Dewinter calls Judaism “a pillar of European society”, yet associates with antisemites, while claiming that “multi-culture … like Aids weakens the resistance of the European body”, and “Islamophobia is a duty”.

But the most rabidly Islamophobic European philozionist is Heinz-Christian Strache, head of the Austrian Freedom party, who compared foreigners to harmful insects and consorts with neo-Nazis. And yet where do we find Strache in December 2010? In Jerusalem alongside Dewinter, supporting Israel’s right to defend itself.

Mahmoud Abbas: Vatican embassy a ‘place of pride’ | Al Jazeera |

Mahmoud Abbas has renewed a warning against plans by the incoming US government to move its Israel embassy to Jerusalem as he formally opened a Palestinian embassy in Vatican City.

The inauguration of the Vatican-based mission came a day before representatives from over 70 countries gather in the French capital for an Israeli-Palestinian peace conference.

“This embassy in place of pride for us and we hope all of the countries of the world will recognise the state of Palestine, because this recognition will bring us closer to the peace process,” Abbas said after meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

« click for more info Pope Francis exchanges gifts with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas during an audience at the Vatican Saturday, May 16, 2015. (Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/Pool Photo via AP)

Trump has repeatedly said he plans to relocate the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and last month chose David Friedman, a right-wing lawyer, as his ambassador to Israel.

UK signals closeness to Trump with snub to French Middle East summit | The Guardian |