Bono and the pope harmonize on climate change, girls’ education

ROME, May 19 (Reuters) – They didn’t sing together but U2 frontman Bono and Pope Francis were in harmony about their concern for the world and the power of women to modify the globe when they achieved in Rome on Thursday.

Bono, 62, and the 85-yr-pope shared star billing at an event organised by Scholas Occurrentes, a around the world network of educational institutions that promotes digital and in-man or woman encounters and aims to improve educational options.

The motion was launched in the pope’s native Argentina when he was however archbishop of Buenos Aires and has considering the fact that spread to far more than 70 nations, several in the building planet.

In a question-and-reply session at a Rome college, Irishman Bono requested the pope:

“Girls’ instruction is a superpower in combating excessive poverty and I would like to talk to His Holiness if he thinks that girls and girls enjoy the identical highly effective role in tackling the climate disaster.”

The pope, who has usually identified as for a lot more regard for the ecosystem and warned of the potential risks of worldwide warming, responded:

“We usually speak of Mom Earth and not Father Earth,” drawing laughter from Bono and the entire audience.

“Females know far more about harmony than adult men,” said the pope, who remained in a wheelchair all over the event because he is suffering from knee and leg ache.

Bono, whose beginning title is Paul David Hewson, sat in the front with students and later greeted the pope. He said he had supplied learners songs lessons previously in the day.

The pope explained to the youthful folks to live life comprehensive of courage and poetry and “to go past what is politically correct”.

At just one point, an organiser reported there was a shock.

Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho walked in and gave the pope – a keen admirer of the activity – a jersey with his title and the range 10 on it.

Reporting by Philip Pullella
Editing by Frances Kerry

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