In an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, President Barack Obama spoke about various subjects from North Korea to the Vatican.
Stephanopoulos asked Obama what he thought about if an American pope were chosen, what he thought that might do to the partnership between the church and state.
Obama replied: “I don’t know if you’ve checked lately, but the Conference of Catholic Bishops here in the U.S. doesn’t seem to be taking orders from me.”
Although, the next day a South American pope was chosen, Obama seemed pleased with the idea that it might have been a north American pope, he said, “It seems to me an American pope would preside as effectively as a Polish pope, an Italian pope, or a Guatemalan pope.”
Obama then went on to say that he admired the Catholic Church and the terrific work that they do around the world, helping the less fortunate and such and that as far as choosing a new pope he said, “My hope is that you have a pope who sustains and maintains what I consider the central message of the gospel – that we treat everybody as children of God, that we love them the way Jesus Christ taught us to love them.”
Obama added that it would mean a devotion to God, but also, a great devotion to service and to the people around the world. He said that a pope who could speak loudly about the issues and problems around the world would be a positive impact on the people of the world.
Although some believe that his confirmation that he is a Christian is not true and then he is really a Muslim, Obama has continued to declare his faith around the world. He has said that when he wakes up in the morning he says a brief prayer and spends a little time in scripture devotion.
Obama says that he takes calls from two influential Christian leaders: Joel Hunter, a mega church pastor from Florida, and with T.D. Jakes, a mega church pastor from Texas. He went on to say, “Our goal should not be to declare our policies as biblical. It is God who is infallible, not us. Michelle reminds me of this often.”
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