POPE FRANCIS CONGRATULATES TRUMP

   The Pope sent official congratulations to President Trump on Friday and offered prayers for his Administration during Daily Mass. The message sent to Trump was published by the Vatican and reads as follows:

    "At a time when our human family is beset by grave humanitarian crises demanding farsighted and united political responses, I pray that your decisions will be guided by the rich spiritual and ethical values that have shaped the history of the American people and your nation's commitment to the advances of human dignity and freedom worldwide. Under your leadership, may America's stature continue to be measured above all by its concern for the poor, for the outcast, and those in need who, like Lazarus, stand before the door. With these sentiments, I ask Our Lord to grant you and your family and all the beloved American people, His Blessings of peace, concord, and every material and spiritual prosperity."

     Trump has not yet appointed a new ambassador to the Vatican, but the outgoing ambassador, Ken Hackett told Catholic News Agency that he expects relations between Trump and Pope Francis will be positive. Hackett pointed out that while the two leaders differ on immigration policy, Trump and Francis are aligned on many other political and social issues.

      The 2016 Campaign was a contentious one for US Catholics. There was considerable rabid anti-Catholicism from elements of the pro-Trump media and bloggers. Francis had also made some remarks concerning the proposed Border Wall that the Corporate Media took out of context and inflamed a short-lived controversy between the Trump Campaign and the Vatican. Wiki Leaks also revealed that arch-criminal George Soros had insinuated some of his front-groups into the US Papal visit (although it appears that this was done without Francis' knowledge).

       Trump, himself, however, has not come across as anti-Catholic. His wife Melanie is a Catholic, as is Vice-President Pence. But many Catholics who lean Conservative have always held some reservations during the campaign: Trump often gives the impression that his social policies are determined more by Realpolitik than actual commitment to principle.

       But even if these concerns have some foundation, the alternative would have been far worse. When one considers the frosty reception the Pope received from the Obama White House during the Papal Visit and overt hostility the Clintons displayed toward the Church; it's doubtful that the American Church could have survived as a social force under 4-8 more years of the same policy trends.

       Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State, had probably the best advice for American Catholics, and the world in general.

        "We must wait and see. Normally, it is said, it is one thing to be a candidate and another thing to be President, and have responsibility. We will see what choices he makes and according to that one can also make a judgment. It seems premature to make judgments now." His Eminence said.