Pope Francis: 'Building Walls Means Condemning Yourself to Death'

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church met with a group of Jesuits from Mozambique, Portugal, and Zimbabwe in early September to discuss political and religious issues. The conversation occurred on September 5, but a transcript of the discussion was released on Thursday. During the talk, Pope Francis warned of xenophobia and populism.

"Xenophobia and aporophobia today are part of a populist mentality that leaves no sovereignty to the people. Xenophobia destroys the unity of a people, even that of the people of God," the pope said.

29 If you're a good and faithful believer in Christ, I don't see how your leaving, improves the Church. What's with the soldiers abandoning their posts as soon as the enemy is within the walls? You're not supposed to go AWOL at first blood. You're supposed to stand and fight.
Jesus said that when confronted by the wolves, the good 'uns stay, the hirelings run. (John 10:12-13)

John 10:11-13(NIV) 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

I am having difficulty understanding your scriptural reference. Just who is the hired hand in reference to the universal catholic church? The pastor/preacher/priest? A regular member of the church? Or someone outside the church?

I say this because I left the Episcopal Church in 2003 when the presiding bishop consecrated the first openly homosexual diocesan bishop. Over the ensuing 16 years the orthodox believers within TEC have been purged from the seminaries, bishoprics, parish pulpits, and vestries across the U.S. while the General Convention's House of Bishops and House of Delegates push further in their embrace of social justice causes.

Matthew 10:5-16(NIV) 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. 9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.

"Shaking the dust off your feet" seems to be the logical choice. At least so far in the 21st century, the universal catholic church has not resumed making martyrs of those within its ranks who disagree theologically. But quite a few of the sheep pens have gone apostate.

2 Timothy 4:1-5(NIV) 1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

So, do you stay in the sheep pen fighting the good fight against apostasy or do you strike out to join a flock of orthodox believers? I realize this question goes back to the early days of the universal catholic church.

Matthew 10:1-10(NIV) 1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:16(NIV) I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

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