So is political proselytism OK, your Holiness?

By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Sep 27, 2019

Here’s what Pope Francis did NOT say, speaking to a group of Jesuits in Mozambique:

Today I felt a certain bitterness after a meeting with young people. A woman approached me with a young man and a young woman. I was told they were part of a slightly leftist movement. She said to me in perfect Spanish: “Your Holiness, I am from South Africa. This boy was an oil-company executive and converted to environmentalism. This girl was a conservative Republican and is now against the death penalty.” But she told me in a triumphant way, as though she was showing off a hunting trophy. I felt uncomfortable and said to her, “Madam, evangelization yes, proselytism no.”

(The words in italics have been changed; the rest comes verbatim from the Civilta Cattolica account.)

When the Pope speaks out on political topics, I doubt he would object to someone who instantly accepted his guidance. Why is he so suspicious of religious conversions, when hungry souls rush in to Christ’s banquet?