The Italian edition of the pop-culture magazine Vanity Fair has declared Pope Francis its Man of the Year — with the backing of openly gay English singer-songwriter Sir Elton John.
The magazine features the Pope on the cover of its latest issue and says he has done enough in his first 100 days in office to be put at the top of the list of world leaders who make history.
The cover has the title “Francesco Papa Coraggio” (Francis Pope Courage), and a quote from his appeal for the forgotten immigrants who lost their lives trying to reach the southern Italian island of Lampedusa.
In one of five accompanying tributes from celebrities, Sir Elton writes: “Francis is a miracle of humility in an era of vanity.”
He adds that he hopes the Pope will be able to bring his message “to the most marginalised in society, to those communities which, at this time of their lives, they desperately need your love”.
Sir Elton calls on the Catholic Church to turn back to “the ancient values of Christ” and reach out to the many children, women and men who are suffering from HIV and Aids — “often alone, and hidden by the silence, his beacon of hope will bring more light than any advancement of science, because no drug has the power of love”.
Sir Elton’s support for the Pope is unexpected since he has been in a civil partnership since 2005 and has previously clashed with the Church over issues such as gay marriage and contraception in Africa.
Vanity Fair described the words and actions of Pope Francis as “heavier than boulders”.
It said the Pope showed what he meant when he said “be shepherds who have the smell of their sheep” by visiting Lampedusa, and illustrated his message with powerful words and gestures.
Sources:
Image: Metaltube
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News category: World.
