Pope Francis Draws Extraordinarily Record Crowds

Normally this time of year Pope John Paul II would draw around 10-15 thousand people to the General Audience, Pope Benedict 15-25 thousand.  Pope Francis is consistently drawing more than three or four times those numbers.  Yesterday more than 70,000 auditors gathered in Saint Peter's Square to greet, listen to and be greeted and blessed by His Holiness.  Viva el Papa Francisco!  The Holy Spirit is working on the world through the papacy.

The Papal Weekly Wednesday Catechetical Audiences are certainly the grandest classroom in the world; no contest!  Weekly!  Not counting the millions who follow by multi-media.  And anyone can watch it anytime, with simultaneous translation, On Demand.  I'll be doing that right now.  Yesterday's topic?  The continuation of the Year of Faith catechesis on the creed: the seventh article: "Inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos."  The Judgement is an impetus for present action and youthful, joyful enthusiasm for the work of God in the world, without fear.