Scott Detrow

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.

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.

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.

So then when I first asked the question, you said you wanted to take them separately. Let's talk about specific diplomacy because there are also examples of Pope Francis acting in a diplomatic way, whether it was brokering deals between the United States and Cuba or other examples.

So then when I first asked the question, you said you wanted to take them separately. Let's talk about specific diplomacy because there are also examples of Pope Francis acting in a diplomatic way, whether it was brokering deals between the United States and Cuba or other examples.

So then when I first asked the question, you said you wanted to take them separately. Let's talk about specific diplomacy because there are also examples of Pope Francis acting in a diplomatic way, whether it was brokering deals between the United States and Cuba or other examples.

How has Pope Francis' approach to global politics differed from the way that John Paul II approached this?

How has Pope Francis' approach to global politics differed from the way that John Paul II approached this?

How has Pope Francis' approach to global politics differed from the way that John Paul II approached this?

Let me go back to Pope Francis one more time. We talked about a wide range of different approaches that he's taken to global politics, international relations. What to you of these last 12 years is the most significant thing that Pope Francis did in this field?

Let me go back to Pope Francis one more time. We talked about a wide range of different approaches that he's taken to global politics, international relations. What to you of these last 12 years is the most significant thing that Pope Francis did in this field?

Let me go back to Pope Francis one more time. We talked about a wide range of different approaches that he's taken to global politics, international relations. What to you of these last 12 years is the most significant thing that Pope Francis did in this field?