The
president makes the pope’s resignation all about him
Posted by Jennifer Rubin
When
I saw this, I thought it was a parody of a presidential statement:
“On
behalf of Americans everywhere, Michelle and I wish to extend our appreciation
and prayers to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Michelle and I warmly remember
our meeting with the Holy Father in 2009, and I have appreciated our work
together over these last four years. The Church plays a critical role in the
United States and the world, and I wish the best to those who will soon gather
to choose His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI’s successor.”
But
no, that’s the real thing. To complete the theme, I’m surprised it did not end,
“But enough about me, Your Holiness, what do you think of my agenda?”
What is
important about the pope and his resignation is not, alas, that Obama met with
him. And I am puzzled by the use of the phrase “our work together over these
four years.” Did Obama reduce the number of abortions in the United States? No,
that can’t be it. Did he reduce poverty here in the United States? Tragically not.
You’d think
the pope was head of a secular charity (“The Church plays a critical role in
the United States and the world”) rather than the spiritual head of a worldwide
religion.
Compare
the statement to that of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.):
“Today
Pope Benedict XVI displayed the qualities of an excellent leader and a true man
of God by putting the interests of the Vatican and the Catholic Church over his
own papacy. Since becoming Pope in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI has served the
Church honorably, particularly through his work promoting charity across the
globe. I wish him well in the future and, as a Catholic, I thank him for his
service to God and the Church. I also look with optimism toward the future of
the Catholic Church as it prepares to welcome a new leader and as it continues
to spread God’s message of faith, hope and love to all the corners of the
world.”
The
president isn’t a Catholic, but his antiseptic, self-centered statement is
really a shoddy effort.
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