As preparations for an upcoming papal visit to Sri Lanka are being finalized, I find myself remembering…

prior to a recent papal visit to the Philippines, dozens of street children were locked up in appalling conditions alongside adult criminals in Manila, being picked up from under road bridges where the pope will travel, making sure they are not seen by Pope Francis.

A Catholic website [patheos] has this to say:

‘Pope Francis, vicar of Christ, the successor of Peter and Paul doing what Peter and Paul did. Traveling missionaries, living the gospel, spreading the gospel. On a mission from God, for God. When the pope travels and greets millions we’re reminded of this mission of the church–to reach out to the whole world.’

I find myself wondering…… does the same fate await those less fortunate in Sri Lanka?

“Vicar of Christ, living the gospel, on a mission from God, for God, reaching the world?” OR…

a paradox, a contradiction, an apostate, a heretic?

"Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the traditions of men."  Mark 7:6-8