# Five Year old Girl "Breaks thru barricade"to Give Pope message on Immigraation **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 24, 2015, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379 "2015-09-24T05:45:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/81 "2015-09-24T16:44:52Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > You don’t accidentally get chosen to be The Pope. He is the head of a vastly wealthy multi-national organization that is many centuries old and that plans to be around for many more. Their leaders are chosen with that long game in mind. You are curiously naive if you think his public persona is anything other than carefully managed. And of course it is carefully managed, but thinking that that it is \*\*always \*\*so in all situations is what conspiracy ideas are made of. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/82 "2015-09-24T16:44:57Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > If a secret service guy helped her over a fence so she could get to the pope this was manipulated way higher than the parents. That’s not how it went down. She climbed over the fence on her own and was stopped by security. The Pope saw her and motioned to let her through and _then_ the agent picked her up and brought her to him. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/83 "2015-09-24T16:46:18Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > You are curiously naive if you think his public persona is anything other than carefully managed. For someone whose public persona is carefully managed, the Vatican’s spokesmen seem to spend an awful lot of time “clarifying” various statements of his. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/84 "2015-09-24T16:49:21Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > 😕 What translation are you reading? Mein Bibel? He was more of a communist, right? ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/85 "2015-09-24T17:27:11Z")
This is maybe the stupidest thread I’ve seen in my life, but it’s worth noting that the streets around the parade route were surrounded by a security perimeter and everyone entering had to undergo screening. Given that this is an area adjacent to the White House that frequently hosts VIP events, I would reckon that they are VERY good at securing this particular plot of land, and there are likely multiple back-up measures that may not be readily apparent. So basically everyone on the route had already passed through security, and the cordons and guards were more for crowd control than physical security. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/86 "2015-09-24T17:37:25Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > For someone whose public persona is carefully managed, the Vatican’s spokesmen seem to spend an awful lot of time “clarifying” various statements of his. His particular task is to change public perception of the Papacy and, by extension, the Catholic Church itself. He, or some Vatican focus group, has decided that his public persona will be as regular guy keepin’ it real. This, I expect, is to distance the office from the public perception Ratzinger’s Papacy engendered. Since he took office, we have heard tales of things like him “sneaking out at night” to hobnob with the poor. Piss poor job of sneaking, I’d say, when it is publicized world wide. His public persona is stage managed, sometimes with greater skill, sometimes with lesser. The more sickly-sweet moments, like this one in DC, are examples of the latter. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/87 "2015-09-24T18:08:49Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > His particular task is to change public perception of the Papacy and, by extension, the Catholic Church itself. He, or some Vatican focus group, has decided that his public persona will be as regular guy keepin’ it real. This, I expect, is to distance the office from the public perception Ratzinger’s Papacy engendered. Since he took office, we have heard tales of things like him “sneaking out at night” to hobnob with the poor. Piss poor job of sneaking, I’d say, when it is publicized world wide. His public persona is stage managed, sometimes with greater skill, sometimes with lesser. The more sickly-sweet moments, like this one in DC, are examples of the latter. Your tin foil hat is slipping. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/88 "2015-09-24T18:21:49Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Your tin foil hat is slipping. The Pope is a political player on a multi-national scale. His public appearances and public relations are every bit as controlled as those of Vladimir Putin and Barrack Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/89 "2015-09-24T18:40:07Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > The Pope is a political player on a multi-national scale. His public appearances and public relations are every bit as controlled as those of Vladimir Putin and Barrack Obama. > [@Scumpup](#): > > He, or some Vatican focus group, has decided that his public persona will be as regular guy keepin’ it real. Don Draper doesn’t work for the Vatican. Neither does Karl Rove. The Pope answers to God, not a focus group. He does and says what he does and says because it’s what he _believes_ and because the college of cardinals trusted in his ability to lead the Church. He didn’t become a “regular guy keepin’ it real” out of the blue in 2013 because Marketing told him it tested well; it’s what he’s practiced for _decades_. There isn’t anyone telling him how to behave because there isn’t anyone who _can_ tell him how to behave. What are they gonna do - fire him? I’m not a Catholic or a Christian and I disagree with the Catholic Church on a lot of things. Their beliefs on sex and reproduction are backwards, they’re flat-out wrong about capital punishment, and they do a poor job of policing their own. But it’s quite clear both from his words and his behavior that Francis walks the walk, and the idea that he’s some sort of talking head who’s being fed lines based on what’s polling well at the moment is frankly baffling and ranks up there with believing that Obama’s a secret Muslim or that Trump is a stealth Democrat. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/90 "2015-09-24T18:44:16Z")
You assume that he works for the focus group and not they for him. You have the entirety of world history to show you that when (vast) wealth and power are in play that sincerity and honesty have no place at the table. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/91 "2015-09-24T18:50:42Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > You assume that he works for the focus group and not they for him. You assume the focus group exists. > [@](#): > > when (vast) wealth and power are in play Francis doesn’t seem to be very interested in either. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/92 "2015-09-24T18:51:07Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > The Pope is a political player on a multi-national scale. His public appearances and public relations are every bit as controlled as those of Vladimir Putin and Barrack Obama. The Pope, Vladimir Putin and Barak Obama IN THEIR WILDEST DREAMS WISH they had the ability to control random events and their outcomes to the degree you so eagerly attribute to them and their staff. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/93 "2015-09-24T18:56:01Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > The Pope, Vladimir Putin and Barak Obama IN THEIR WILDEST DREAMS WISH they had the ability to control random events and their outcomes to the degree you so eagerly attribute to them and their staff. Well, obviously they _want_ you think they’re not all-powerful. ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/94 "2015-09-24T19:08:24Z")
> [@Klaatu](#): > > Well bein the pope is a socialist from Argentina i would expect nothing less Not a scholar of Church history in Argentina, I take it? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/95 "2015-09-24T19:33:09Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Francis doesn’t seem to be very interested in either. How much of the RC Church’s vast holdings has he liquidated and distributed to the poor? If he is not interested in power, why has he not resigned the Papacy and grabbed a ladle at a soup kitchen? He is no rebel. He was chosen by a group of old men who are apparatchiks in a self-perpetuating organization that is centuries old. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/96 "2015-09-24T19:40:36Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > How much of the RC Church’s vast holdings has he liquidated and distributed to the poor? “The RC Church” is not a single corporate entity which the Pope has total control over the finances of. If you bothered to do some reading into how the church is organized instead of just assuming that every large organization in the world operates the same way as Wal-Mart or the Republican party, you’d understand that. > [@](#): > > If he is not interested in power, why has he not resigned the Papacy and grabbed a ladle at a soup kitchen? [Who says he has to do one or the other?](http://www.newsweek.com/pope-francis-joins-homeless-catholic-charity-lunch-after-addressing-congress-376133) > [@](#): > > He is no rebel. [Tell that to all the people who’ve been complaining that he refuses to do the stuff a Pope is supposed to do.](http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/how-pope-francis-became-a-rebel-in-the-vatican-a-1035629.html) > [@](#): > > He was chosen by a group of old men who are apparatchiks in a self-perpetuating organization that is centuries old. I thought he was chosen by “some Vatican focus group”? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/97 "2015-09-24T19:49:02Z")
You don’t seem to understand that, when they are choosing a new Pope, the College of Cardinals is acting as a focus group. Look, if you enjoy buying into his “just folks” imagr, it’ your choice. I was raised Catholic, I attended Catholic school, and it was studying the organization itself that eventually cemented my athesism. They are not an organization that has a history that points to this guy being a simple fellow who loves the poor. They haven’t had someone who matches that description since, maybe, that guy who got nailed to a tree. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/98 "2015-09-24T19:53:02Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > You don’t seem to understand that, when they are choosing a new Pope, the College of Cardinals is acting as a focus group. No, they’re acting as an electoral college. You may as well say that the president is appointed by a focus group. > [@](#): > > They are not an organization that has a history that points to this guy being a simple fellow who loves the poor. The organization isn’t what points to this guy being a simple fellow who loves the poor. _His life story and his behavior over the last four decades_ is what points to this guy being a simple fellow who loves the poor. You clearly have an axe to grind with the Catholic church that renders you incapable of considering Pope Francis as an individual or a human being instead of as a bureaucrat. That’s on you, not him. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/99 "2015-09-24T20:06:17Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > No, they’re acting as an electoral college. You may as well say that the president is appointed by a focus group. > > The organization isn’t what points to this guy being a simple fellow who loves the poor. > > _His life story and his behavior over the last four decades_ is what points to this guy being a simple fellow who loves the poor. > > You clearly have an axe to grind with the Catholic church that renders you incapable of considering Pope Francis as an individual or a human being instead of as a bureaucrat. Of course Francis isn’t a bureaucrat. The bureaucrats wanted a head figure that wasn’t one and was just a regular fellow who loved helping and hanging out with the poor to take the focus off of the bureaucrats because their followers were declining so they had to change their public image. So they searched their ranks looking for a guy just like Francis to try to change their public image to try to get more followers. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379/100 "2015-09-24T20:06:56Z")
Right…right…an organization that has wrought misery and evil for millenia just up and chose someone who goes against all that as their leader. Why did they do that? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-year-old-girl-breaks-thru-barricade-to-give-pope-message-on-immigraation/732379.md?page=6)