Well, the Pope is in the news again . . . but this time, not for looking like a communist. In fact, it’s hard to say that this is the face of someone who believes in communist principles:

The constantly-peaceful Pope Francis seems to have been shaken rather severely when Bolivian President Evo Morales gave the pontiff a “communist crucifix,” where the cross is replaced by a hammer and sickle. Reportedly (though I can’t hear it myself, being a non-native Spanish speaker with a hearing problem), the Pope muttered “No está bien eso,” or in English, “This is not okay with me, dude.” 

Morales apparently denies trying to politicize the Pope’s visit or that his actions have nothing to do with promoting communism. Since Morales is a very left-wing politician, the head of Bolivia’s socialist party, and keeps clashing with Catholic bishops on his politics, I think this is a bit like saying Colonel Sanders wouldn’t be promoting the consumption of chicken when handing someone a drumstick.

Fr. Z. has a similar opinion of the situation, and scoffs at the idea that a commie crucifix could ever be considered está bien, even if it has a relationship with a single priest nearly half a century ago who may or may not have been doing the right thing at the time.

It’s pretty clear from the video that the Pope is embarrassed, and looks like he’s trying not to make a scene. Fr. Z. likens it to a grandfather who is attempting to be gracious when a naughty boy gives him something wildly inappropriate. Personally, I think that Pope Francis might have, just for a moment there, considered taking up Pope Julius II’s views on pacifism.

In fact, as you might guess, my response to this story was to immediately leap on a meme generator and start turning up the snark.

Got any good ones? Share and share alike!