Pope Leo Tries to Stem the Secular Tide in Spain

Just now Pope Leo is in Spain. He will be there for several days. According to a press article he will address several human rights issues. He will also visit youth groups in an effort to stop the trend of youth leaving Catholicism and Christianity in general.

In one of his early stops, it was clear his operatives were looking for optics that made his visit look exciting. Several thousand kids were given white smocks to make a photo impression of a huge event. The Popes speech apparently was not about being a Catholic, but "returning" to the denomination. He said it should not be relegated to a museum. Leo knows the numbers. They are declining.

The Pope points to the history of Catholicism in Spain. Certainly, it's been there for a long time. Before, Catholicism, however, there was something else. No doubt every region had its own god and myths. To be accurate, the Pope should urge going back into history, but not too far back. Just go back, he should say, to when Catholicism was big but not the pre-Christian period.

Every time I see photographs or TV coverage of religious or anti-abortion events that shows an ocean of  kids singing and cheering I cannot help but suspect first, a lot of money raised by causes to pay the way for kids to attend and second, a lot of kids who don't really care about the cause but are there for the fun. Kids like to skip school.

I suppose Popes have traveled the world since they were first invented. Yet, at least for the past several decades Catholic numbers in the West have declined. In spite of his efforts in Spain, all indications are numbers will continue to fall there as well.