pope francis was a bar bouncer and socialist

The Sanders campaign rejects the notion that there is any political motivation behind the trip, instead saying the conference is an opportunity for the senator to spread his message of economic inequality.ĬNN’s Ben Wedeman, Dan Merica, Sophie Tatum, Gregory Krieg, Ashley Killough and Marillia Brocchetto contributed to this report.Pope Francis is the 266th Bishop of Rome. Still, Sanders has shown a respect and fondness for the unconventional Christian leader, saying recently in a rally that he is “a very great fan” of the Pope and his messages, namely the need to pay attention to the dispossessed and the idolatry of money. Sanders rails against “the establishment” in all of his speeches, and his progressive platform includes strong support for abortion rights and LGBT rights in contrast to Pope Francis. The liberal Jewish senator and the leader of the Catholic Church make for odd bedfellows in many ways. The Greek island has become a focal point of the Syrian refugee crisis. The Greek island has become a focal point of the Syrian refugee crisis.īut on Friday morning, Francis sent a note to conference attendees saying that would not attend because he is going to Lesbos early Saturday morning. But on Friday morning, Francis sent a note to conference attendees saying that would not be able to attend because he is leaving for a trip to Lesbos early Saturday morning. Sanders had said before the trip that he would be honored to meet Pope Francis. “We can say that with unregulated globalization, a world market economy built on speculative finance burst through the legal, political and moral constraints that had once served to protect the common good,” he said.Īfter his address, Sanders walked through the gate and greeted onlookers before briefly speaking to the press. His speech Friday largely echoed his regular remarks on the campaign trail in the United States: that the concentration of wealth is in too few hands and the middle class is disappearing. “There are few places in modern thought that rival the depth and insight of the Church’s moral teachings on the market economy,” Sanders said, a topic which he himself has been speaking about during the presidential race for months. Sanders began his 15-minute speech to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences with a showing of solidarity and admiration for Pope Francis, emphasizing their agreement on economic justice. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) Andrew Burton/Getty Images North America/Getty Images Bernie Sanders (D-VT) speaks at a campaign rally at the Pinkerton Academy Stockbridge Theatre on Februin Derry, New Hampshire. before he left for Greece to meet with refugees.ĭERRY, NH - FEBRUARY 08: Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. “So a five-minute visit, you cannot do much in a five-minute – after you say ‘hello,’ there’s not time left.”Ĭolumbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, who was at the meeting, said Sanders got word that the Pope wanted to meet at 6 a.m.

“Five minutes sounds like ‘Try and get me in to see him so I don’t get myself embarrassed before I come back to New York,’” Trump said, referring to the Vermont senator’s lagging poll numbers ahead of Tuesday’s primary. If anyone thinks that a greeting is getting involved in politics, then I recommend they look for a psychiatrist,” the Pope said, laughing.Īsked about the meeting on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends” Saturday morning, GOP front-runner Donald Trump suggested it wasn’t a big deal. “It’s called manners and not getting involved in politics. Speaking to reporters on the Papal Plane on the way back from Lesbos, Greece, Pope Francis said his handshake with Sanders was not a political act but simply good manners. Sanders said there were no photos of the meeting. ” I just wanted to let him know how appreciative I was and the extraordinary role he’s playing throughout the world in raising consciousness about massive levels of income and wealth inequality,” he said. He declined to provide details on what the Pope said, saying he’d rather keep it to himself.

And I enjoyed the opportunity to chat with him,” Sanders said. They met in a hallway at the Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican residence where Sanders and his wife spent the night, he said. He described his meeting with the Pope as “extraordinary,” saying it happened before Francis left for Greece, where he’s visiting refugees. Why is Bernie Sanders in Vatican City not New York City? Bernie Sanders (D-VT) debates Hillary Clinton during the CNN Democratic Presidential Primary Debate at the Duggal Greenhouse in the Brooklyn Navy Yard on Apin New York City.

Pope francis was a bar bouncer and socialist