(CT) Timothy George–Why Evangelicals can enthusiastically join arms with the new R. Catholic leader

Early on, in a radical act of dispossession, Francis broke decisively with his former life as a soldier and playboy. He stripped off his clothes and ran out of the bishop’s palace stark naked, saying, “I will no longer be called the son of Pietro Bernardone. From now on I shall say simply, ‘Our Father, who art in heaven.’ ”

We see already an intimation of Saint Francis in Pope Francis. There is his simple apparel: black street shoes instead of the calfskin red of his predecessors, simple white cassock minus gold-embroidered accessories. In addition, a pope who lives in a modest guest house (versus the spacious papal apartments), worships on Maundy Thursday with young prisoners, and who embraces hiv/aids patients in a hospice follows in the steps of il poverello, “the poor one,” as Saint Francis was called.

Since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision of 1973, Catholics and evangelicals in the United States have worked side by side to advocate for the sanctity of life. The pro-life community will have a strong ally in the new pope. He has referred to abortion as the “death penalty” for the unborn.

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Posted in * Religion News & Commentary, Evangelicals, Other Churches, Pope Benedict XVI, Roman Catholic, Theology