Pope Francis greets nuns at the end of his weekly general audience at St Peter’s square on Oct. 7 at the Vatican. (Filippo Monteforte, AFP/Getty Images)
Re: “The limits of papal infallibility,” Oct. 11 Mike Rosen column.
Mike Rosen is wrong in his attack on Pope Francis. “Infallible” statements from popes are extremely rare, and nothing from Pope Francis has claimed that authority.
The pope’s encyclical on “our common home” is a letter addressed “to every person living on the planet.” It is addressed so widely because Francis “would like to enter into dialogue with all people about our common home.”
Pope Francis does not seek “unquestioned agreement,” as Rosen fears. The encyclical, and the pope’s recent words in the U.S., put forth moral perspectives that are deeply rooted in Catholic teachings as the basis for conversation. As the leader of a global church, working with learned advisers, he is well-positioned to spark dialogue on important issues — including economics and ecology.
I find Pope Francis to be far more illuminating and authoritative on these complex topics than “freelance columnist” Rosen.
Rev. Peter Sawtell, Denver
The writer is executive director of Eco-Justice Ministries
This letter was published in the Oct. 18 edition.
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