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Pope offers hope to world’s youth…When the pope arrives in Toronto July 23 for World Youth Day, thousands of young people will be waiting for the chance to be in his presence. SFU humanities lecturer Donald Grayston says that’s what the event is about. "It’s a chance to say they saw him, heard him, and for many there will be a sense of personal connection." Grayston notes that the visit comes in the wake of a rise in youth involvement in organized religion. He says that as a religious institution, Christianity has had time to reflect on how to be present among its youth, and given more anxious times, young people are exploring their spirituality. "There is a sense that through organized religion, there may be solace, a solution to their need for personal peace," says Grayston, who can talk about the relevance of religion and spirituality to young people. Meanwhile, SFU historian Hilmar Pabel, who specializes in Catholicism, says despite the pope’s frailty, he continues to draw great enthusiasm and enjoy celebrity status, as he witnessed at the Vatican on Palm Sunday when the pope announced his visit to World Youth Day. Pabel was in Rome conducting research in the Vatican library on 16th century Europe and intellectual history. But he is also following present day issues around Catholic reform, specifically as it relates to the system that has allowed problems of sexual abuse of children to occur. Such reform will not happen under the present pope, he notes.

Donald Grayston, 604.291.5516; 604.709.0883; donald_grayston@sfu.ca
Hilmar Pabel, 604.291.5816; pabel@sfu.ca (away after the morning of July 25)


A time to stay, a time to go…When leaders become enamoured with power and in the process, turn arrogant and feel they are irreplaceable, supporters become restless, says SFU political scientist Patrick Smith. That’s where Prime Minister Jean Chretien appears to be sitting, and with the latest polls showing his support scraping bottom (at 14 per cent), and calls for his resignation coming from his own party, Smith says he wouldn’t be surprised if he makes that announcement later this fall. "He’s a scrapper, and people love that when it’s positive," says Smith, who suggests that the February leadership review will likely be replaced by a leadership race next summer. "But there’s enough writing on the wall to suggest it’s not working any more, and that he should get out before there’s any more damage to the party." Smith says there are already clear signs that exit strategies are underway, such as the suggestion of four-laning the Trans Canada Highway as his legacy to the country. As for the party, Smith says with voters finding little comfort in any federal opposition, Chretien’s replacement, predictably Paul Martin, should have little trouble sliding into power.

Patrick Smith, 604.291.3088/604.291.1544 (h); psmith@sfu.ca