How long does it take?

This year the pope wished for fraternity among men (and women too, he is hip to #MeToo movement sisters).

“We are all brothers,” he said. “Our differences, then, are not a detriment or a danger; they are a source of richness.”

“So that the Syrian people, especially all those who were forced to leave their own lands and seek refuge elsewhere, can return to live in peace in their own country,” he said.

“The globalization of indifference, the economy of exclusion and the throwaway culture” were thoughts on the Papal agenda.

Recognizing the global migration of war refuges he said, “We encounter Jesus in those who are poor, rejected, or refugees.”

He offered, “Salvation passes through love.”

He apologized (again) for sexual mishaps saying the church has made some “serious mistakes”.

Fine speech on this holy of holy days by the current CEO of one of the oldest and largest Christian churches, but the words seem to sound familiar.

Peace on earth, goodwill to all people who travel on this blue orb.

There was no acknowledgement of the addicted or the mentally disturbed or even the puppies in the pound. Global warming or plastic litter or over population or air pollution was never mentioned. The list goes on and on and grows every year, and all the pontiff can proclaim is “Why can’t we all just get along?” (Rodney King, I stole a paraphrase) before going back into the gilded halls of the Vatican for a huge dinner with the deity’s board of directors.

For as long as I can remember preachers, teachers, politicians and prognosticators have spoken eloquently about our need for humanity and most of us seem to agree, but we just can’t do it.

We can write laws and make declarations to stem our differences, but what we do best is make wars. Even the most powerful army cannot change the heart.

So like much else on this day of peace on earth, people will be murdered, children will starve and clashes will continue around the globe; no matter what is said.

We, as a species, can do some amazing stuff like shoot people into space or invent never ending versions of entertainment, but we can’t cure hath. We can’t even cure cancer with all the dough we’ve spent on that wonderful endeavor.

Maybe it will take a second coming from the child in swaddling clothing to take care of business?

No matter what is said or who says it, tomorrow will be another day and the words will be forgotten.

How long does it take?