Like Pontius Pilate
Roman Catholic Pope Francis is a man of great humility. He is committed to helping the poor and the destitute. He has much charisma and, indeed, appeals to many Catholics (and non Catholics as well) around the globe. He is also, I’m afraid, quite the hypocrite.
His penchant for hypocrisy became apparent early in his tenure. Even at the outset, he often publicly decried accumulation of wealth while neglecting to mention the fact that he dwells among some of the most opulent surroundings on this planet.
Pope Francis also decried Mr. Trump’s call for a wall along the United State’s southern border. He claimed that true Christians “don’t build walls”. He neglected to mention, however, that most of the Vatican is surrounded by a wall that varies in height from 30 to 60 feet.
But, the most recent and most flagrant example of his hypocrisy involves the sad case of a young Pakistani woman. Pope Francis has railed, on many occasions, on the need for Catholics to “welcome the stranger” and for the developed countries of Christendom to accept untold numbers of migrants, mostly from Syria and the Islamic world. The wisdom of such a recommendation is quite open to debate, but there is another aspect of his exhortations that does not engender debate for the simple reason that it can not be denied. I referring, again, to his hypocrisy.
The case at hand concerns a Pakistani Christian woman by the name of Asia Bibi. Ten years ago Ms. Bibi offered water to Muslim women who were working along side her on a farm. The other women refused her offer and explained that they couldn’t accept the water because Ms. Babi was Christian and was, therefore, considered by Muslims to be “unclean”. Ms. Bibi was, understandably, offended, and an argument ensued. In that argument, it is claimed that Ms. Bibi said that Jesus was alive whereas Mohammed was dead, and that “our Christ is the true Prophet of God, and yours is not.” For this “crime” she was sentenced, in 2009, to DEATH BY HANGING. While awaiting her execution, judicial wrangling ensued and Ms. Bibi was held IN SOLITARY CONFINMENT for eight YEARS. During that time, a Punjabi governor took her side in the matter and was expeditiously murdered by his own security guard for that anti Sharia “sin”. Recently, on retrial, she was acquitted due to conflicting testimony of the “witnesses” involved. The acquittal sparked massive protest by throngs of Muslims calling for her immediate execution. Vigilante squads have been searching for her ever since her release, and her life is in constant danger. Her request for asylum (in this case, LITERAL “life and death” asylum) has already been denied by Great Britain and other countries due to fears of retaliatory Muslim violence.
Because Ms. Bibi is a living martyr for Christ, you would THINK that Pope Francis would welcome her with open arms and give her asylum in the Vatican, which is a sovereign state. That’s NOT what happened, however. On December 17, 2018, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, spoke to the media and explained that the Vatican is, surprisingly, NOT engaging in diplomatic activity to save Ms. Bibi, adding that “it’s an issue inside Pakistan. I hope it can be resolved in the best way.” … “hope”??… That’s ALL the Vatican can do is “hope”???… What about offering immediate sanctuary via residency in the Vatican housing? What about flying in a helicopter under the cover of night to spirit her out of danger? What about pushing the matter at the United Nations? What about, at least, calling Amnesty International? Apparently, none of these possible responses have been taken.
Now, I think it can be safely assumed that Cardinal Parolin would not have issued such a statement without the consent of Pope Francis himself. As such, it would appear that Pope Francis has REFUSED to offer sanctuary to a Christian martyr in dyer need and in mortal danger. Like Pontius Pilot with the fate of Jesus in his hands, Francis has, in effect, “washed his hands” of Ms. Bibi. Unthinkable, isn’t it? None-the-less, it appears true. And, in view of his incessant exhortations to Catholics to welcome asylum seekers, Pope Francis, sadly, would appear to be the biggest hypocrite on this earth. And I hope that every time he “washes his hands” as part of every Catholic Mass, something inside him awakens and reminds him of his own hypocrisy.