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Youth & Young Adults
April 8, 2014
T
he Valley Catholic
Young adults respond to ‘Francis Effect’
Steve Do, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of San Jose, asked
young adults for their responses to:
• After one year in office, what are your thoughts on Pope Francis and the
so-called “Francis Effect”?
“Pope Francis has been a breath of fresh air whose words and actions have truly
spoken to the masses. I always tell everyone to remember that although none of the
Church’s teachings have changed, the tone has significantly changed.
“Before he became Pope Francis, he was living out his Religious order, the Jesuits,
by their famous motto, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, which means ‘For the Greater Glory
of God.’ Pope Francis stated that instead of us ‘obsessing’ on issues of abortion, gay
marriage, and contraception, we must not forget our duty to help the poor, the marginalized, and the outcast.
“Pope Francis stirred ‘controversy’ by washing a woman prisoner’s feet on Holy
Thursday, baptizing a child of an unmarried couple, and his famous statement that if
someone ‘is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?’
“Pope Francis does it with such a loving, authentic and intelligent grace instead of
like others within our Church community who have been self-righteous, judgmental
and picky.
“May Pope Francis continue to lead the Church ‘for the greater glory of God’ and
bring back hearts and minds to a loving and welcoming place called home - our Roman Catholic Church.”
John Huan Vu
Saint Julie Billiart Parish, San José, Young Adult Leader
• Thoughts on Pope Francis & the so-called “Francis Effect”?
“Pope Francis demonstrates that Charity and O