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Author explores friendship of President Reagan and Pope John Paul II

Elizabeth A. Elliott | Catholic Herald Staff Writer

Paul Kengor, professor of political science and executive director of the Center for Vision and Values at Grove City College in Grove City, Pa., presents the findings of A Pope and a President: John Paul II, Ronald Reagan, and the Extraordinary Untold Story of the 20th Century, at the Catholic Information Center in Washington May 24. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Both President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II survived
assassination attempts, forgave their shooters, suspected Russian involvement
in the assassination attempts and wanted to defeat communism. Reagan, a
Protestant, considered Pope John Paul II a close friend and the feeling was
mutual.

Author Paul Kengor wrote A Pope and a
President: John Paul II, Ronald Reagan, and the Extraordinary Untold Story of
the 20th Century
about the unique relationship between the two world
leaders. Kengor presented his findings May 24 at the Catholic Information Center
in Washington, the same day President Donald Trump and Pope Francis met at the
Vatican.

Kengor is a professor of political science and executive director
of the Center for Vision and Values at Grove City College in Grove City, Pa. He
is also the author of 11 Principles of a Reagan
Conservative
, The Communist: Frank Marshall Davis,
The Untold Story of Barack Obama’s MentorandDupes: How America’s Adversaries Have Manipulated
Progressives for a Century
.

Kengor began his presentation by noting similarities between Reagan
and Pope John Paul II before they were in positions of power. Both were involved
in sports and acting. Kengor elaborated on other similarities throughout his
presentation. The two men met in person five times in eight years, though they
corresponded throughout their lives.

Unlike Reagan and Pope John Paul II, Kengor said Trump and Pope
Francis have little common ground. “They may find common ground on the issues
of religious liberty and religious persecution,” he said in an interview after
the event.

There is a possibility of collaboration between Trump and Pope
Francis, Kengor said. “Their first meeting together made that clear,” he said.

“Some people were looking for and maybe hoping for fireworks and
acrimony,” he said. “But I figured they would probably get along. The Holy
Father is gracious and merciful and gets along with people.” 

Unlike Trump and Pope Francis, Reagan and Pope John Paul II were
kindred spirits.

“They agreed on so much, from economics to philosophy, to their
understanding of the human person,” he said. “They both felt going into their
first meeting that their lives had been spared for a special divine purpose for
this unity of mind and mission to defeat atheistic Soviet communism.”

Kengor said Pope Francis would have to be pleased with Trump
doing things such as banning funding of Planned Parenthood. “They might
disagree on immigration, building walls and climate change, but I think (with) some
of these religious liberty and human life issues they can find areas to
collaborate.”

Kengor’s 648-page book details the similarities and spiritual
bond between Reagan and Pope John Paul II, and provides new information on the
attempted assassination of the pope and consideration of Moscow’s involvement.

Pope John Paul II was shot 64 years to the day after the first apparition
of Our Lady of Fatima, Kengor said.
“Frank Shakespeare, the second ambassador to the Vatican, gave Reagan a
one-on-one Fatima briefing in June 1987 before Reagan’s second Vatican meeting
with the pope,” said Kengor. “Reagan was even interested in the alleged
apparitions of Mary in Medjugorje.”

When Pope John Paul II was shot, it deepened the affection
between him and Reagan, Kengor said. Reagan delivered a personal message to the
pope as he was recovering.

An audience member asked how Reagan and the pope were different
from what Kengor expected at the beginning of writing the book.

Although he had written a previous book on Reagan, he later
learned their relationship was closer than he realized.

“From a Catholic perspective, the Marian bond was something I did
not expect at all,” he said.  

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