The Pope and His Global Flock

Re “Part of the Flock Felt Abandoned by the Pope,” April 10: The pope made many speeches and traveled extensively, but in the big picture he did not make one ounce of difference to the political scene in any country or the poor around the world.

And he kept a closed mind to overpopulation in the poor and poorest of countries and said no to contraceptives.

P. J. Bates

Santa Barbara

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Re “Attendance Is a Concern for Church,” April 10: As a recent adult convert to Catholicism who treasures her newfound faith and attends Mass daily, I read with interest your article on declining attendance at Mass.

Even though I pray that all lapsed Catholics will return to the fold, the phenomenon doesn’t surprise me in the least.

After all, Jesus Christ himself said, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”

Rhonda Pond

Simi Valley