Pope Francis, since his unexpected election in 2013, has directed his papacy towards the underserved and marginalized populations. Notably exemplified during his visits to Mexico, where thousands gathered, his approach emphasized engagement with those on the peripheries of society, including immigrants and the poor. His presence, though not marked by compelling oratory, resonates deeply, connecting him with diverse crowds. Events like his arrival in Chiapas illustrate the fervent enthusiasm and communal spirit that his visits inspire, drawing attention to social issues often overlooked in the global discourse.
From the moment he became an unexpected pope on a rainy night in Vatican City in 2013, Francis centered his papacy on what he called the peripheries, the places forgotten in a supposedly interconnected, globalized world.
He talked about people on the margins, about immigrants and the poor, and when he traveled the globe, he always found them, and they found him.
Any pope can draw a crowd, but Francis had something intangible. He wasn't an especially riveting speaker yet his sheer presence captured people.
In Chiapas, so many people crowded in a local stadium in 2016 that it seemed to heave from the human swarm, everyone craning upward, squinting at the cloudless sky.
Collection
[
|
...
]