The moral authority that Francis exudes makes his interventions in controversial contemporary issues – such as his condemnation of the Armenian genocide, Islamic jihadi violence, Mafia criminality and corruption in Italy, and the deaths of African and Middle Eastern migrants in the Mediterranean – extremely powerful. Before and during his visit to the US, his views on three issues – none of which is without controversy in the US – will have a particularly strong impact.
方济各所散发的道德权威让他能够非常有力地干预当代矛盾——如谴责亚美尼亚种族灭绝、伊斯兰圣战暴力、意大利黑手党犯罪和腐败、死于地中海的非洲和中东难民等。在他访问美国之前和期间，他在三个在美国存在争议的问题上的观点将形成特别强大的影响。