I'm not a religious person. I'm an atheist. So I'm wondering...

[Takket]

How would a spiritual person take the fact the God's representative on Earth died almost immediately after meeting with Vance?

Just a coincidence? After all the pope has been very sick, and likely overexerted himself with the Easter events.

Or a sign the Vance is.... pure evil?

[Rver]

1. Yes, evil... nt

[malaise]

2. I too am an atheist

I posted what my deeply Catholic mother would have said

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220256494

[surfered]

3. Given the choices in your premise, I'm going with #2

[marble falls]

4. Assuming that JD is a spiritual being? Or that Francis had rolled up a Papal Bull and swatted ...

... JD on the nose with it and moved JD to a chair after he got too cozy with the sofa?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. People will see what they want to see, because that's what we do -- try to find meaning in things that don't

always have anything to do with each other.

[Mike Nelson]

6. My best guess is...

... Vance wanted to meet the Pope because people knew Francis didn't have much time left, and this might be the last chance for Vance to get a photo op with the religious leader. The Pope accepted a meeting with Vance because Francis hoped he could use his influence to get Vance to change his political directions and help people who need help.

[dutch777]

7. The latter is certainly true. Whether it affected the outcome, one can only speculate. RIP Francis.

[Mike 03]

8. Good question.

I was also wondering if the events of the last few days shed any light on the Third Secret of Fatima. (From Google AI: )

The Third Secret of Fatima, revealed in June 2000, describes a vision of a "Bishop dressed in White" (interpreted as the Pope) being killed while kneeling at the foot of a cross, followed by the deaths of many bishops, priests, and laity. This vision is set against the backdrop of a city half in ruins, with the Holy Father passing through a place of death and suffering. The secret also includes a description of soldiers firing at the Holy Father and others, and angels collecting their blood in crystal aspersoria.

When I first heard the Third Secret (and still to this day) I don't understand it at all, which I guess isn't surprising since I'm not Catholic or Christian. But it sure is interesting to ponder its meaning.

[Groundhawg]

9. The Pope isn't God's representative.

[AkFemDem]

10. An alternative religious take is that-

God gave him the strength and fortitude to hang in there "just a little longer" in hopes that he'd meet Vance and bless him with compassion and wisdom, and give JD the courage to turn from the evil that employs him.

I'm not saying I believe this ^ (I'm a super squishy Christian who should probably stop using the label Christian and just accept my agnostic core) or that if such was true that the Pope's efforts actually netted any positive results in Vance (I'm also a super cynical person who often believes thew worst of people) but just offering that there is an alt spin one could put on this.

[Sky Jewels]

14. Why did this god cause or allow the Holocaust?

Or wars? Or famines? Or pandemics? Or natural disasters? Or slavery? and on and on.

If this deity has the power to affect the actions of humans on this one little planet amongst trillions, then history shows it is a purely evil entity.

Happy to be an atheist!

[AkFemDem]

15. Not sure why you're asking me

As I clearly am ambivalent and have no answers. I'm utterly unqualified to explain why a Christian God does anything.

[DBoon]

11. didn't Queen Elizabeth pass right after visiting Liz Truss?

coincidence?

[anamnua]

12. As the saying goes everyone dies after their last meal

but that does not meal that their last meal caused their death. Besides someone like Pope Francis would have seen it as part of their role to engage with sinners as well as saints.

[Tommy Carcetti]

13. As a practicing Catholic...

...I would likely see it as a mere coincidence.

But also some good fodder for dark humor.

[Jacson6]

16. Don't worry the History Channel will do a conspiracy theory episode on how Pope Francis died.

[GP6971]

18. Well, Hello!!! Did you have a nice weekend?

[alarimer]

19. Queen Elizabeth died a couple of days after meeting with Liz Truss

Must be something about conservatives.

[ShazzieB]

20. Good question.

Sorry, I don't have any answer for you. This is the first I've heard of this, so Im still procesxing it!

*runs to check the news*

Oh, yeah, he died all right. A few weeks ago, I was expecting this to happen eny time, but I thought he was on the mend now. I guess his system couldn't tolerate being in the presence of Vance's evil!