Aleteia logoAleteia logoAleteia
Tuesday 19 March |
The Solemnity of Saint Joseph
Aleteia logo
News
separateurCreated with Sketch.

Sting meets Pope Francis and shares it on Twitter

STING,POPE FRANCIS

© Vatican Media via @OfficialSting

J-P Mauro - published on 08/08/18

He called Pope Francis a "true rock star."
Without donors, Aleteia's future is uncertain.
Join our Lenten Campaign 2024.
PLEASE MAKE A DONATION TO ALETEIA

English rock star Sting was present at Pope Francis’ weekly Papal Audience, on Wednesday. The former front-man of The Police looked thrilled as he shook the pontiff’s hand after the address.

Sting tweeted a series of pictures of the moment, with the caption, “Pope Francis is a true rock star! A genuine charisma that filled the room. RT [Real Talk]”

Although Sting was raised in a Catholic household, he does not identify himself as a Catholic. His wife Trudie, however, is a devout Catholic and both of their children have been baptized. In a recent interview with National Catholic Register, Sting mentioned that Trudie is “gaga about [Pope Francis].”

When asked what role faith had played in his music, Sting answered:

It was both positive and also a little frightening. I was a very serious child so I used to get cosmic vertigo, ontological vertigo. The concept of eternity for me was really troubling, not only eternal damnation but eternal heaven — it just seemed like Mass that would never end. I thought: I don’t want either [laughs]. Eternity still horrifies me but at the same time being put into that conundrum — philosophical conundrum — was perfect to forge an artistic angst, an artistic struggle. Plus the history of the Church, you know blood and death and torture and all the rest of it, the Last Things. And the music and the liturgy fed this artistic soul. I’ve benefited from it, but I’ve also suffered from it.

Watch this Rome Reports’ video of the meeting here:

Vatican News reports Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the Ten Commandments, this week focusing on idolatry. He referenced the story of the golden calf, from Exodus, noting that the calf represented fertility and strength, while the gold symbolized great riches:

“Success, power, and money” will always be temptations; the golden calf is “the symbol of all the desires that give us the illusion of freedom,” but actually end up enslaving us. Pope Francis said all this comes from an inability to trust completely in God, “which allows us to endure even weakness, uncertainty, and instability.” When our confidence in God fails, “it is easy to fall into idolatry, and become content with meagre assurances.” It is only when we look to Christ, who became poor for our sake, “that we discover that recognizing our own weakness is not the misfortune of human life, but rather the condition” that allows us “to open ourselves to Him who is truly strong.” The salvation that comes from God “enters through the gate of weakness.” We Christians, the Pope said, “turn our gaze to Christ crucified, who is weak, despised, and stripped of everything He possesses.” But Jesus crucified shows us the true face of God. “He comes to reveal the paternity of God: In Christ, our fragility is no longer a curse, but a place of encounter with the Father, and a source of new strength from on high.”
Tags:
CatholicismPope Francis
Support Aleteia!

Enjoying your time on Aleteia?

Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you.

Thanks to their partnership in our mission, we reach more than 20 million unique users per month!

Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting and transformative Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more.

Support Aleteia with a gift today!

jour1_V2.gif
Daily prayer
And today we celebrate...




Top 10
See More
Newsletter
Get Aleteia delivered to your inbox. Subscribe here.