AUDIO TRANSCRIPT: SU Catholic Chaplain Stands Behind Pope’s Easter Sunday Message
John Tangel: The Syracuse University Catholic Center practices what it preaches. Yesterday, the Pope made comments about indifference to violence. S-U chaplain Gerry Waterman says the government has contradicted these feelings.
Gerry Waterman: Whatever the Pope says about non-violence, I’m gonna stand behind 100 percent, because our society, in fact our government currently, is off the rails when it comes to violence.
Tangel: Instead, the downtown Samaritan Center offers a chance to give help to those in need.
Waterman: On a regular basis, we have people at the Samaritan Center downtown, people working to help the poor. At Assumption, where I live, we have a food pantry and soup kitchen.
Tangel: The Samaritan Center is open to all who wish to help. From Syracuse, I’m John Tangel, NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — A Syracuse University chaplain is standing firmly behind Pope Leo XIV’s Easter Sunday remarks condemning society’s growing indifference to violence.
Pope Leo XIV, delivering his first Easter address from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, called on world leaders to choose peace over war. The pope warned that the world risks growing indifferent to the deaths of thousands and to the hatred and division that conflicts produce. These remarks landed for leaders at the Syracuse University Catholic Center.
“Whatever the Pope says about non-violence, I’m going to stand behind 100 percent, because our society, in fact our government currently, is off the rails when it comes to violence,” said the Rev. Gerry Waterman, chaplain at the Syracuse University Catholic Center.
Waterman’s comments come in response to President Trump’s Easter morning Truth Social post, in which he threatened to unleash heavy bombing on Iranian power plants and bridges if Tehran refused to unblock the Strait of Hormuz. The pope’s Easter message drew a sharp contrast, according to Waterman.
While others debate, the Catholic Center is putting its beliefs into local action. The downtown Samaritan Center, 215 N. State St., partners with the Catholic community and offers ongoing opportunities for volunteers to serve those in need. The interfaith organization serves more than 88,000 hot meals annually with the help of over 1,000 community volunteers each month.
“On a regular basis, we have people at the Samaritan Center downtown, people working to help the poor,” Waterman said. “At Assumption, where I live, we have a food pantry and soup kitchen.”
The Samaritan Center is open to all who wish to volunteer, regardless of religious affiliation. More information is available at samcenter.org.