The Roman Curia Has Its Defects, But

It Is Necessary To Broaden The Opportunities For A Stronger Presence Of Women In The Church.

I Had A Long Conversation With The Imam, The Grand Imam Of The Al-azhar University, And I Know How They Think... They Seek Peace, Encounter.

There Is Another Temptation Which We Must Especially Guard Against: The Simplistic Reductionism Which Sees Only Good Or Evil; Or, If You Will, The Righteous And Sinners. The Contemporary World, With Its Open Wounds Which Affect So Many Of Our Brothers And Sisters, Demands That We Confront Every Form Of Polarization Which Would Divide It Into These Two Camps.

It's Best To Not Confuse Optimism With Hope. Optimism Is A Psychological Attitude Toward Life. Hope Goes Further. It Is An Anchor That One Hurls Toward The Future, It's What Lets You Pull On The Line And Reach What You're Aiming For And Head In The Right Direction. Hope Is Also Theological: God Is There, Too.

I Recognize That Globalization Has Helped Many People Rise Out Of Poverty, But It Has Also Damned Many Others To Starve To Death. It Is True That Global Wealth Is Growing In Absolute Terms, But Inequalities Have Also Grown And New Poverty Arisen.