There are many serious and knotty issues that I must face each day, but the Pope Francis reminds me by his example and his words that Christ has already redeemed creation and we are saved, even when that might not be so obvious because of the world's many problems and our own grievous sinfulness.

There are many serious and knotty issues that I must face each day, but the Pope Francis reminds me by his example and his words that Christ has already redeemed creation and we are saved, even when that might not be so obvious because of the world's many problems and our own grievous sinfulness.

If those who voice opposition to Pope Francis and the direction in which he is leading the church come from other nations but their statements are published on American media platforms, it may appear that they originate in this country or reflect our sentiments. We have our own dissident voices to be sure, but too frequently every challenging voice that criticizes the Holy Father and is broadcast on American media is identified as American in origin.

Like any other spiritual transformation or renewal, conversion must begin with an honest and a sincere admission that we need God's trans-formative power in our lives to achieve any real change, no matter the perspective from which we might begin.

For better or worse, the United States enjoys the lion's share of public and media attention. We influence much of the conversation on social and public media by sheer volume.

We must remind our people that a great majority of Catholics including their own families were once themselves immigrants forced to endure the nativist bigotry of earlier generations who spoke about Catholics with the same disparaging vitriol being hurled at the new immigrants of now.

We must refine our evangelization efforts, catechesis, and social-justice teaching to ensure that our people fully understand that religious formation and principles can never be disassociated from any aspect of our daily lives, including our political choices.