A Progressive's Pilgrimage.

FRANCIS, Pope, 1936-; CATHOLIC Church; PAPAL visits; AMERICAN Catholics; SOCIAL justice -- Religious aspects -- Catholic Church; PROGRESSIVISM; CONSERVATISM & religion; ABORTION & Catholic Church; ATTITUDE (Psychology); CHRISTIANITY

The article discusses the state of Catholicism in the U.S. upon the scheduled late-September 2015 visit of Pope Francis, particularly how the pope may address divisions with the U.S. Catholic Church concerning the direction of his papacy and what his progressive social agenda may mean for the church. It examines the significance of the pope's visit to the U.S., the focus of Pope Francis on the concepts of social justice and economic justice, and the risk Pope Francis takes of alienating conservative Catholics should he not address issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage.