Showing posts with label Jordan. Show all posts

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Whew!!! Francis is back up to full speed!

This morning Francis was asked by Shimon Peres to be a head of a new organization, a United Nations for Religions because, "perhaps for the first time in history, the Holy Father is a leader who's respected, not just by a lot of people, but also by different religions and their representatives." Francis was non committal in his reply to Peres.

Then Francis went on google hangout to promote Scholas, an NGO, which also was one of the two main sponsors for his Interfaith (soccer) Match for Peace. There he chatted with students from around the world and acted as Francis only can.

It looks like an intimate setting doesn't it? The reality was far different. Francis did this in a college style lecture room filled with reporters. Nothing denigrates the papacy like stooping to broadcasting on a webcam to raise money for one of those NGOs you love to complain about in your general audiences and homilies. Earlier this week it was a cartoon with Disney character Plim Plim and now webcamming? We at Call Me Jorge... fear the surprises Francis schemed during his vacation and has in store for us.

Reporters awaiting the arrival of Francis for his webcam show.

Rounding out the rest of Francis' day was his meeting with a fellow interfaith super-star and a prince of Jordan, El Hassan bin Talal,

a modernist sermon in Casa Santa Marta with the key word being 'encounter',

and finally another meeting with the 'hand of God' himself, Diego Maradona!

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Francis preaches about Christ in the Holy Land

Just joking, here is Rome Reports'
Top 10 Phrases uttered by Francis on his trip.

Which one is your favorite?

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

reading Francis through Skorka

Rabbi Skorka wrote a column today, El viaje del Papa a Tierra Santa: Palabras claras y acciones valientes, 1 July 2014, for Valores Religiosos in which he explains Francis' trip to the Holy Land. Skorka sees Francis in the same fashion he sees Jesus, as a prophet of the Old Testament. One who has been commanded by God to give voice to the poor and marginalized of the world, to tell their leaders to get their houses in order. He also alludes to Francis being a symbol to extremists that despite the extremists best efforts, in the end inter-religious dialogue will bring peace to the world. (Yeah, a peace under the Talmudic Noachide Laws.) Lastly, Skorka calls for more inter-religious prayer meetings for peace to help defeat these same extremists.

The pope's trip to the Holy Land: Clear words and courageous actions
by Rabbi Abraham Skorka*

Pope Francisco defined his journey to the Holy Land with the word "pilgrimage", which he said was the essence of his visit to Jordan, Palestine and Israel. Amen (so be it) of the multiple moments of prayer and meeting with leaders of the various Christian denominations, Jews and Muslims, in order to strengthen the bonds of inter-religious dialogue, the Pope had to face the dramatic conflicts between the peoples of the Middle East. With that term the Pope intended to throw (off) any possibility of interpreting his trip as purely political one in order to achieve solutions to the difficult problems of the region. (Francis was) Not intending to act as a mediator between political, economic and strategic interests. It (Francis' purpose) was to cry out for the dignity of every individual, whose palpitations --according to the story of the biblical text of Genesis-- (are) a breath of the Creator. Bergoglio acted according to the paradigm of the Prophets of Israel. These messengers of God loudly expressed sharp criticism against those responsible for the evils that were committed both within their people, (and) in other nations, as described, among others, in the book of Jonah. The God of the Hebrew Bible, which Jews pray to, (as well as) Christians and Muslims, is not indifferent to the work of each individual, he wants to be honored by the application of justice and the development of profound feeling of love. The prophets were sent by God to awaken the consciences of men. His words involving political issues. Criticized corrupt judges, dishonest officers, the petty priests and all those who from a position of power supported a reality that exploited one another. His platform was not political, no social aspirations of leadership are in them. They were masters of the spirit. From a Jewish perspective, Jesus can be seen as a teacher who continues the path of the Prophets. (In the first chapter of his book "Jesus of Nazareth", Ratzinger, draws a parallel between Jesus and Moses, the greatest of the prophets). Pope Francisco understood that prophetic fire which must give its message to the world. Clear and compelling words. Committed and courageous actions. The trip to the Holy Land had many points (which) had to be filed down and superlative efforts are required to overcome differences. The meeting of prayer for peace could only be achieved through great efforts and dedication. It is from this perspective that the trip made by the Pope in the Middle East should be analyzed. Not to look forward from one day to the next for their work of magic to be reached, the reality of peace. But on the other hand, millions in the world, among whom were surely many that support extremists and fanatical ideas --saw Jews, Christians and Muslims together, invoking peace through a prayer meeting. In a global reality in which the sensitivity that allows (one) to perceive the subtle message of a profound encounter in search of spirituality, is constantly undermined, the Pope sought the assistance of Peres and Abbas to issue a cry, like the ones God told the Prophets should exclaim. A few days of this pilgrimage, in which I had the honor and spiritual satisfaction to take part in, informed the media about acts of vandalism in the region. The extreme fanaticism, blaspheming, invoking the name of God to defile and destroy his work, was also apparent in all its horror. Destructive actions covered with dense and dark clouds on horizon seem to form as a monstrous response to the proceedings. However, history, life, teaches us, these gloomy skies will only dissipate with the power of the sensible word, the one which vibrated in the Vatican gardens, for the hope of a better reality is still intact.

*Rabbi of the Community "Banei Tikva." Rector of the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

that's how he rolls

Francis departing Rome for Jordan on Alitalia

Francis leaving Israel on EL AL flight

Monday, June 9, 2014

What happens when...

...Francis arrives in the Holy Land?

Why God sends a sign.

A little less than two hours after Francis arrived in Jordan, the Arava Valley area on the Israeli / Jordanian border had an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.6. Not a big enough earthquake to kill people but one which was certainly enough to shake them up.

The earthquake of 26 May 2014 is the bigger of the two blue dots in the picture on the left.

It was the biggest earthquake in the area since this chart's data start point in 1984.

Some say this is a coincidence...well we say these coincidences are happening all too often. They have to be signs.

And dear reader don't forget the fire which took place in Bethlehem soon after Francis left on the EL AL jet to return to Rome.

fire at Bethlehem's Nativity church

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

turning Our Lord's Baptism into a photo-op

Here's a video of the photo-op watch the first 12 minutes.

One thing which stands out about Francis' trip to Jordan, the occupied Palestinian territories, and Israel is everywhere he went it was showtime! Everything was done for the adulation of the crowd, the media, or his puppet masters. Francis treated Christ as if he were a backdrop/extra on a movie about humble Francis. Not wanting to spread the word as commanded by Jesus the Christ,

"And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

- Mark 16 : 15 -

"Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

- Matthew 28 : 19 -

Instead, Francis chose to have 'faith experiences' and participated in the 'culture of encounter.' Whether it was praying with a Moslem and Jew at the Kotel, placing flowers on the grave of Theodor Herzl, praying with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, kissing six hands at Vad Yashem, or his visit to the al-Aqsa Mosque, Francis neglected not only Christ's command but helped spread apostasy through his actions. We guess, old Church laws like communicatio in sacris no longer apply. The warmup act which happened before all this was his visit to Bethany beyond the Jordan.

Some photos below with Call Me Jorge...'s comments. Please, bear with us the payoff is at the end. So without further ado...

Francis visits Bethany Beyond the Jordan

with the King and Queen of Jordan

King Abdullah II al-Hussein driving Francis to the baptismal pool.

They arrived at the spot where John the Baptist, baptized his cousin Jesus the Christ.

Far away shot of the pool, it is very large.

Francis humbly bends over to dip his hand into the pool.

Francis gets his hand wet.

Francis makes sign of the cross for his photo-op.

Rubbing his face for the camera as if he is agonizing over something.

The narcissist, Francis, looking at his reflection in the water.

Francis doing his best to act humble while he thinks about how

he will soon put a wreath on Herzl's grave.

The king driving Francis back to the tourist guest center.

So we can hear you, what's the big deal?

Aerial satellite map of the area in Jordan where Bethany beyond the Jordan is located.

The Church of St. John the Baptist was only 're-discovered' in 1994 along with Elijah's Hill and John the Baptist's Cave. It was located on the River Jordan and the river washed out the churches built there many times. In fact there have been five churches built one on top of another. The Church of St. John the Baptist was the only church to have a cruciform baptismal pool which used river water overflow. Problem is the Jordan River has long since changed its course. It is now 9 kilometers inland! In order for there to be water in the baptismal pool, a crew pumped water into it with fire hoses and watered down the hill sides with garden hoses.

A computer model of the Church of St. John the Baptist and the
Baptismal Pool where John the Baptist baptized his cousin, Jesus the Christ.

The Daily Mail wrote, "Fill her up: The Bethany beyond the Jordan before the Pope arrived as workers use hoses to fill it up."

Two workers filling the Baptismal Pool up with water before Francis' visit.

Haaretz said, "Before the Pope's visit, filling the Baptism Site, Jordan yesterday."

Is this a sign from God? Does it symbolize the spiritual dryness of the Novus Ordo and the emptiness of Francis on the inside? Oh that's correct dear reader, we forgot Francis isn't empty on the inside, instead he is filled with an inner Jew. You can't make this stuff up!

A very interesting film on the history of Bethany Beyond the Jordan named, The Baptism of Jesus Christ: Uncovering Bethany beyond the Jordan, can be watched by (clicking here).

Thursday, May 29, 2014

who could have foreseen the trip to the Holy Land?

The Papal Pilgrimage (1964) British Pathé

A look back at Paul VI's trip to the Holy Land.

Francis' recent trip was in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Paul VI's historic journey in which he met with the (then) Greek Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople, Athenagoras.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Francis' upcoming Monday in Jerusalem

Francis is soon to be traveling to the Middle East where he will visit Jordan, the occupied Palestinian territories, and Israel from May 24th to May 26th. This trip is ostensibly taking place to further interfaith relations with the Eastern Orthodox religion. Of interest to us at Call Me Jorge... is the last day of Francis' trip which will be in Jerusalem. The official itinerary of the trip can be seen at the Vatican's website (click here) and the official website for the trip (click here). We hope to have coverage of the trip and several articles on what was said and done by Francis but not reported by either the catholic or the mainstream medias. One particular item in the schedule which was pointed out by Maurice Pinay in his blog post, Francis' Counterfeit Israel Pilgrimage Itinerary, is the following:

09:45 Laying of a wreath at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem

Maurice Pinay comments on this,

"I believe there's a mistake in the itinerary below; that Francis will lay a wreath at Yad Vashem (in deference to Holocaustianity, his true religion) rather than Mount Herzl as stated. Whatever the case, his presence at Mount Herzl will signify a stronger endorsement of Zionist fanaticism than any of his predecessors. In context, even the bolshevik radical Paul VI, whose papacy ended only 36 years ago, did not recognize the Zionist state at all."

Unlike Maurice Pinay, we do not think there is a mistake with the itinerary. We believe that Francis wants to lay a wreath at Mount Herzl to make a public statement. Francis, back when he was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, sent his best and brightest seminarians and priests to Israel. In their itineraries was a visit to Mount Herzl. It was stated by the various authorities that this trip would be the first of many and would establish a new tradition for the catholic faith. We have found plenty of photos of world leaders laying wreaths at Mount Herzl. We shall find out soon if Francis is to lay a wreath at Mount Herzl.

A week after this entry was written but the day it was posted, we found the following in an Australian newspaper named, the Sydney News Herald. From the article, Rabbi, Muslim leader to accompany Pope on Middle East trip by Alvise Armellini,

"In Israel, Pope Francis is to visit the Wailing Wall and the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Centre. He will not celebrate a public Mass in the country, but in a first for a visiting pontiff, he will lay flowers at the tomb of Theodor Herzl, the founder of the global Zionist movement."

And also, the following on the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs website which published Francis' itinerary (click here) for his trip to Israel which states on 26 May 2014,

09:45-09:55 – Lay a wreath at grave of Theodor Herzl, at Mount Herzl (with the President and Prime Minister)

Yesterday in, update on the White Crucifixion, we showed how Francis' favorite painting contains a rabbinical blasphemy against the Holy Name and soon it seems Francis is going to lay flowers on the tomb of the father of Zionism. Are there any Catholics left in the Vatican?

(Herzl at the Zionist Congress.)

Mount Herzl sometimes referred to as the "Mount of Remembrance" is Israel's national cemetery. It contains a memorial for soldiers killed in the service of the State of Israel as well as a museum and its centerpiece, the tomb of Theodor Herzl.

Mount Herzl