Dec 4 8:31 PM

Behind the ‘Pope Francis Effect’

Pope Francis greets sick people as he arrives at the Marian Shrine of Bonaria on September 22, 2013 in Cagliari, Italy.
Vatican Pool/Getty Images
The Stream (Al Jazeera)

What’s the ‘Pope Francis effect?’ Nine months in, the new Pope’s critique of capitalism and corporations is generating new buzz among Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Although his message of social justice resonates worldwide, a recent Pew poll shows the Pope’s popularity has had “no clear” effect on US Catholics. However, some say his potential impact on US politics tells a different story. Join the conversation at 7:30pm EST.

On this episode of The Stream we'll speak to:

Father John Guthrie 
US Conference of Catholic Bishops 

Sister Jeannine Gramick
Co-founder of New Ways Ministry

John Gehring @GehringDC
Catholic Program Director at Faith in Public Life 

John Allen @JohnAllenJr 
Vaticanologist, Pope Benedict XVI Biographer

What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. 

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