Fourth Annual “Nuns on the Bus” Tour Will focus on the Pope’s Visit

By Gary Nguyen --
01 Sep 2015 --

The 2,000 mile Nuns on the Bus trek will in end in time to greet Pope Francis in Washington, D.C.

The fourth annual “Nuns on the Bus” tour will roll on September 10, 2015 and is planned to visit seven states that are noted for religious diversity and sharp political divides. The main aim of the tour is to collect stories of Americans living on the economic margin and have these documentaries presented to Pope Francis on his six-day visit to the United States.

This year’s theme for the tour highlights one of Francis’ agenda for visiting the richest and most powerful country in the world; that is, the campaign for economy and politics of inclusion. Sister Simone Campbell, the woman behind the “Nuns on the Bus” campaign stresses that Catholic nuns have the same objectives with that of the pope.

According to her “Pope Francis talks about an economy of inclusion. What he says is that politics needs to control economics, economics should not control politics.” She expands by criticizing the current relationship of the economy and the government “We realize that he’s definitely right, but our problem in the U.S. is that our politics are purposefully polarized, so that politics are powerless to affect the economy. In order to have an economy of inclusion we need politics of inclusion.”

The 2000-mile journey of the nuns will end by the time the Pope arrives in Washington DC. They are hoping to attract his attention and meet with the pope by parking their bus close to the White House, although prior request with the White House to do so has already failed.

The #NunsontheBus ARE BACK on the Bus in America's heartland to learn, pray & welcome Pope Francis! http://t.co/K4RfopZlW4
— Laura Peralta (@onthebuslaura) August 26, 2015

Brief background about the “Nuns on the Bus” tour

The “Nuns on the Bus” is a yearly touring event organized by nuns of the Network or Sisters of Social Service. The idea was conceptualized by Sister Simone Campbell who is also a lawyer and political lobbyist known for promoting social justice.

The tour is now on its fourth year and every tour has its own advocacy or theme. In its initial trip in 2012, the tour campaigned for the welfare of the victims of the US economic crisis. The first trip is remarkable since it’s the time of election and the bus toured the districts of notable presidential candidates. The nuns have also protested against proposals to cut social programs during those times. In 2013, the tour campaigned for immigration reform and last year, it tackled the problems of money in politics.

The “Nuns on the Bus” campaign almost failed to kick start in 2012 when the Vatican headed by then Pope Benedict XVI ordered a revamp on the leadership of the Catholic nuns in the United States. The Vatican also conducted investigations on the Leadership Conference of Women Religious or LCWR. According to the Vatican, the nuns are more concentrated in promoting social justice and radical feminist themes which takes much of their time that should have been devoted to propounding church teachings and other religious duties.

But things have changed when Pope Francis become the pontiff. Francis stressed the need to advance the Catholic Church’s social justice doctrine, a similar goal that Sister Campbell’s and the Sisters of Social Service shares. Campbell finally noted that “Obviously Pope Francis’ message is exactly what we’ve been doing for 43 years. Having that affirmation is hugely supportive. What’s important is that we continue to do the mission regardless of how it goes.”