Help me identify this scene with the Pope

[Scotty PGH]

In the film footage they've shown recently, there is often this particular scene with the pope greeting a delegation on the runway on one of his visits. He approaches a shabby, long-haired guy who drops to his knees. But instead of embracing him, the pope beguins to lecture him, shaking his finger at him with great agitation.

Can someone tell me who this man is, and perhaps provide a bit of background on the incident? In one documentary, I caught only part of a sentence where the commentator described the guy as "a liberal theologian," but I didn't catch his name.

[buffalo]

He was being chastised by JPII for his stand on liberation theology.

[Scotty PGH]

Originally Posted by buffalo

He was being chastised by JPII for his stand on liberation theology.

Riiiiiiight. As you can tell from my post, that much I already knew......

[Isilzha]

I saw that on Discovery channel last night. I *think* it took place in Nicaragua. The guys name I thought was something like Cardenal.

Although I could be wrong. Maybe that will help though.

[buffalo]

Originally Posted by Scotty PGH

Riiiiiiight. As you can tell from my post, that much I already knew......

Sorry.

Here is some text on Liberation Theology and why the Pope was telling the Priest to stop.

THE RETREAT OF LIBERATION THEOLOGY

[Marie]

Originally Posted by Isilzha

I saw that on Discovery channel last night. I *think* it took place in Nicaragua. The guys name I thought was something like Cardenal.

Although I could be wrong. Maybe that will help though.

You are correct. The event happened in 1979 I think, might have been later than that in Nicaragua - The monk was the Minister of Culture, Ernesto Cardenal - John Paul symbolically disowned clerical participation in radical liberation theology in no uncertain terms by publicly displaying his displeasure.

[Scotty PGH]

Originally Posted by Marie

You are correct. The event happened in 1979 I think, might have been later than that in Nicaragua - The monk was the Minister of Culture, Ernesto Cardenal - John Paul symbolically disowned clerical participation in radical liberation theology in no uncertain terms by publicly displaying his displeasure.

Thanks - googling for info now.

He was a monk? Looked like he was wearing a t-shirt and jeans.

[Isilzha]

I wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but I got a kick out of it. He always let people know what he thought.

[pprimeau1976]

I looked into it last night when I saw it. Ernesto Cardenal was a priest who held a position with the Communist Sandinista government. Here is what one site claimed he said:

"You must correct yourself with the church. You cannot be aligned with this political movement." He used both fingers. "You must you must correct this." And Cardenal was doing this, "Yes, yes, yes, Holy Father. Yes, I will."

I could not believe all of the anti-JPII stuff out there.

[kayla]

I did see this segment on TV and what was said by the Pope to this man was something like this: You must get yourself right with the church and it's teachings.
although this was translated by a reporter filming this at the time.

[pprimeau1976]

People who criticize the pope for this incident do not realize that admonishing the sinner is a work of mercy. You can only imagine the amount of admonishing a trappist monk would need if they had a position with a communist regime.

[Des]

Perhaps his name was Leonardo Boff. That ex priest who was silenced by the Pope back in '85?

[Irish Melkite]

It was Father Cardenal, then a member of the Society of Jesus, and, as someone indicated, Minister of Culture in the Sandanista government which was ruling Nicaragura at the time. He had been previously instructed by the Pope to separate himself from the position and had not done so.

I believe he has since left the Society. He currently is quite well known as a writer, particularly of poetry, some of which is quite excellent.

Many years,

Neil