Many Central New Yorkers are following Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S., which kicks off late Wednesday when he arrives in the nation’s capital. David McCallum is Special Assistant to the President for Mission Integration at LeMoyne College, a Jesuit school. He says the Pope’s Jesuit roots give the Pontiff a fearlessness to champion social issues.
"An inner freedom from the kinds of biases that are often just part of our human experience gives him an ability to I think stand up to very powerful opponents and say what he thinks, to speak the truth as he sees it, and I think the truth as he sees it is very much rooted in the gospel.”
McCallum, who himself is a Jesuit, says Pope Francis’ call for action to help the poor and mitigate climate change doesn’t just resonate on a world scale. McCallum urges Central New Yorkers to reflect on the Pope’s message and apply his teachings inward.
"We have so much invested in the status quo, but at what expense. To what extent are our privileges and opportunities really causing damage for people within our own nation, and here within our own city, we look at the issues around poverty, and the poverty of children.”
McCallum says it's understandable why an almost universally admired and respected leader like Pope Francis is generating so much enthusiasm.
“It's so seldom that we see leaders who are working for the benefit of all rather than just simply their own interest group. I think there's a quality of integrity and authenticity that we find in Francis that people long for in leadership.”
Pope Francis is in Washington through most of Thursday before heading to New York City and Philadelphia as part of his week long tour.
