David Gibson Creates Conversation About Pope

Francis
Alexandria Gaines
Thursday, October 5th, 2015
Award winning religion journalist, author, filmmaker and Catholic
convert, David Gibson, greeted member of the Elon community with a
smile and a laugh on Tuesday, October 5th, 2015.
Why would you become Catholic? Im a straight, white male so
being Catholic is the perfect place for me! said Gibson.
Gibson currently works as a national reporter for Religious News
Services, specializing in coverage of the Vatican and Catholic Church.
He converted to Catholicism at the age of 30. Gibson came to Elon
University to talk with student and people in the community about
Pope Franciss visit to the United States. He spoke about what we
learned from the visit and what we can expect next.
Pope Francis is the first Latin American Pope who was elected
after the resign of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013. Popes dont resign, this
is the first time in 600 years since one did, said Gibson.
Pope Francis came to the United State not only to fulfill the
promise Pope Benedict made but because he wanted to come here. He
went to the World Meeting of Families in New York City then to
Washington DC to speak on the South Lawn of the White House.
Gibson said that originally Pope Francis wanted to travel to the
US from Mexico across the border to make a statement about
immigration since he is the first Latin American Pope. Instead Pope
Francis flew to the US from Cuba to make a statement about relations
between people and global diplomacy.
Pope Francis wants to focus less on the typical talks of the church
like gays and lesbians or abortion and focus more on loving people,
said Gibson. The pope had two main points that he discussed while he
was here, to reorient the church and a political message.
In his meeting with the bishops, Pope Francis told them he
wasnt there to lecture them but proceeded to lecture, said Gibson.
The Pope addressed his bishops telling them they had to get out of the
fortress mentality and to become a field hospital to those suffering.
This was his point on reorienting the church.

Pope Francis addressed his political point in a joint meeting

between congress and the senate. He is the first Pope to have this
opportunity. Gibson informed everyone that most of the congress and
senate members in this meeting were Catholic, yet they were opposed
to many of Pope Franciss beliefs. A member of the audience asked
Gibson about what significant things did the Pope learn from his visit to
America. Gibson responded that Pope Francis learned about the
diversity in America because he has never been here, not even as an
archbishop. Also he adored the outpouring of support and warmth from
the Catholic population in the US.
Another question asked to Gibson was if Benedict had given any
input to Pope Francis or if he has spoken since he resigned. Gibson told
the audience that Benedict said he wanted to pretty much disappear
and remain silent. He did say the Benedict still writes and talks to his
followers and also writes comments for Pope Francis when he brings
him his speech notes.
Gibson spoke about how Pope Francis says being a Christian is about
going out and giving of yourself and that is how the church will reach
where it needs to be. Gibson hopes that Pope Francis can accomplish
this goal in the time he has left as pope but he is getting older.