This year Benedict XVI had a particularly busy Advent as he offered his support to Communism and Socialism. Indeed, on December 3, 2009, he received Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, above, at the Vatican. On December 11, he granted an analogous honor to Vietnam President Nguyen Minh Triet, first row below.

Needless to say that both are communists and rule over regimes that oppose Catholic doctrine. Benedict XVI received them both without making any consistent restrictions regarding their ideology.

On November 28, he received in a prestigious audience Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, a socialist, second row below. A new presidential election was scheduled for December 13 and support for the candidate endorsed by the Socialist Party, Eduardo Frey, was weak. It is difficult not to say that the papal welcome of Bachelet aimed to influence the electorate in that predominantly Catholic country. Since the required majority was not achieved in the first round of the elections, a runoff is planned on January 17. That is to say, Socialism in Chile is taking advantage of the Pope's support to garner votes for its candidate.

Similar comments could be made about the Pope's warm reception - also on November 28 - of Cristina Kirchner, the socialist-populist Argentine President. After a strong defeat in the parliamentary elections last June, Kirchner was experiencing difficulties in getting her laws passed by the Congress. Needing approval for an important political reform that she had proposed, she was received by the Pope. Four days afterward, on December 2, Congress approved her reform...

Again, it seems undisputable that she pocketed a political advantage from that visit. After her victory, she returned to her normal activities, signing another bilateral agreement with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a known communist.

One sees that Benedict's pre-Christmas schedule supporting Communism and Socialism was, indeed, relentless.

Photos from  Zimbio

Share

Follow us

  Benedict's Support for Communism in China

  Card. Bertone Supporting Raul Castro

  Chinese Underground Church: Anguish & Dismay

  Moscow's New Onslaught

  New Kremlin Bridgehead in Latin America

  Red Army Pays Tribute to JPII

  JPII Supporting Communism in Poland

  Paul VI receiving Andrei Gromyko

Our Lady of La Salette, restore the Holy Church Find 500 more pictures in Previews of the New Papacy