Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.
The President arrived this morning at the Vatican in a motorcade of about 50 cars.
The Pope arrived in a older Ford Focus.
It was a fitting symbol of the wide chasm between the two leaders and their world views.
The meeting was a first for the political and religious leaders.
Despite their differences, by all accounts, the exchange was cordial.
When it ended, the President told the Pope, "I won't forget what you said."
Catholics throughout the world were watching this, including those in Southern California.
The pope has been openly critical of the Republican leaders on his immigration policies.
How do local Catholic faithful who fall on different sides of this political divide resolve their views?
Host A Martinez gets a sense of their reaction from Cecilia González-Andrieu, she teaches theology at Loyola Marymount University.
"The pope is a very good pastor and he's good at appealing to people's better angels," González-Andrieu says, "I wouldn't expect anything but a cordial and respectful meeting between them.
Click on the blue media player above to hear the full interview