A sprinkling of superstition

There has been a lot of talk these past ten days or so about the “Francis Effect”, meaning the effect that Pope Francis has wherever he goes, which recently has been the US. Many people agree that Pope Francis’s visit there has been a huge publicity coup for the Catholic church. He has been welcomed by millions of people, while coverage in the media has been overwhelmingly positive. His warm and charismatic personality has won him many admirers – what’s not to like about a Pope who laughs hea...