Scott Detrow

That's another moment from Francis' March 2024 Easter blessing, as war raged between Ukraine and Russia, Hamas and Israel.

Francis hasn't just focused on war, though. He has repeatedly tried to point the world's attention to two ongoing challenges.

Francis hasn't just focused on war, though. He has repeatedly tried to point the world's attention to two ongoing challenges.

Francis hasn't just focused on war, though. He has repeatedly tried to point the world's attention to two ongoing challenges.

and climate change.

and climate change.

and climate change.

And those statements echoed those of his predecessors on other issues. Pope John Paul II, a son of Poland, worked to bring an end to communism.

And those statements echoed those of his predecessors on other issues. Pope John Paul II, a son of Poland, worked to bring an end to communism.

And those statements echoed those of his predecessors on other issues. Pope John Paul II, a son of Poland, worked to bring an end to communism.

And his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, regularly worked to reduce global inequality. Human rights are more often presented as a common language and the ethic underpinning of international relations. Consider this. Much of the world has spent the past two weeks focused on Pope Francis' failing health.

And his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, regularly worked to reduce global inequality. Human rights are more often presented as a common language and the ethic underpinning of international relations. Consider this. Much of the world has spent the past two weeks focused on Pope Francis' failing health.

And his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, regularly worked to reduce global inequality. Human rights are more often presented as a common language and the ethic underpinning of international relations. Consider this. Much of the world has spent the past two weeks focused on Pope Francis' failing health.

The reason why has as much to do with the Pope's geopolitical power as it does with his spiritual leadership. From NPR, I'm Scott Detrow. It's Consider This from NPR. Unlike any other religious leader around the world, the leader of the world's one billion Catholics is also the leader of a sovereign nation. And Pope Francis has not been shy about using that political power.

The reason why has as much to do with the Pope's geopolitical power as it does with his spiritual leadership. From NPR, I'm Scott Detrow. It's Consider This from NPR. Unlike any other religious leader around the world, the leader of the world's one billion Catholics is also the leader of a sovereign nation. And Pope Francis has not been shy about using that political power.

The reason why has as much to do with the Pope's geopolitical power as it does with his spiritual leadership. From NPR, I'm Scott Detrow. It's Consider This from NPR. Unlike any other religious leader around the world, the leader of the world's one billion Catholics is also the leader of a sovereign nation. And Pope Francis has not been shy about using that political power.

That's Timothy Burns. He's a professor of political science at Colgate University. And he stresses it's that combination of the pope's political and religious power that has made him a powerful force on the world stage for generations.

That's Timothy Burns. He's a professor of political science at Colgate University. And he stresses it's that combination of the pope's political and religious power that has made him a powerful force on the world stage for generations.

That's Timothy Burns. He's a professor of political science at Colgate University. And he stresses it's that combination of the pope's political and religious power that has made him a powerful force on the world stage for generations.

I spoke to Burns this week about the power of the papacy and the power of Pope Francis in particular. Looking at Pope Francis's papacy, what are the through lines you draw through Pope of when he did decide to use this diplomatic power, this soapbox that he has.