Pope Francis goes from Cuba to the U.S. and nobody agrees on everything

Pope Francis meets with Fidel Castro and President Obama within hours of each other. A rather remarkable thaw.

Some facts about Catholics in the U.S. are interesting:

Vice-President Joe Biden (D) and Speaker of the House John Boehner (R) are both Catholic. In 2012 Catholics were 50 per cent for Obama, 48 per cent for Romney. The U.S. House of Representatives has 69 Catholic Republicans and 68 Catholic Democrats. 39 per cent of Catholics (and those with Catholic ties) say it's not a sin to "engage in homosexual behaviour." Forty-four per cent think it is. But 43 per cent think a gay or lesbian couple raising a child is as acceptable as any other arrangement; 27 per cent say it's not. Two-thirds say it's not a sin to use birth control; 17 per cent say it is. Half say it's not a sin to remarry after a divorce without a church annulment; 35 per cent say it is. (CBC News).

One religion, many opinions.

And, there are lots of non-Catholics – indeed, lots of atheists – who are fond of Pope Francis, fond of his liberalization of the Catholic Church, of his message of tolerance.

About 30% of Germany’s population is Catholic. About 40% of Hungary’s population is Catholic. About 80% of the Philippines’ population is Catholic. Lots of Catholics, very different countries and cultures. Germany welcoming hundreds of thousands of refugees, Hungary building razor wire fences, and Philippines remote from the migrant crisis of Europe. 

You do not hear talking heads lump all “Christian countries” into one homogeneous pot of opinion and policy. Similarly, be careful about lumping all “Muslim countries” into the same pot. Saudi Arabia is very different from Indonesia. ISIS is very, very different from Pakistan.