This week, we have been watching with fascination the world’s attention given to Pope Francis as he visits the United States. The attention is fascinating because every time he speaks or offers a gesture of charity such as visiting those in prison, or when he boards a plane, the media follows his every step, his every word.

Especially in our own society and media, where faith is often ignored or belittled, it is as though an exception is made to report on the visit of the pope.

It is not the first time that we have seen this phenomenon. Pope Paul VI visited the United States in October 1965. During that visit he addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations where he famously stated before the world, “No more war, war never again!”

Pope St. John Paul II visited the United States seven times during his lengthy pontificate (including two stopovers in Alaska). Time after time, huge crowds would throng to hear him, sometimes even famously enduring inclement weather. And each event on his agenda was televised so that he spoke directly even to those who were not present.

In 2008, some commented that the visit of Pope Benedict XVI would not be of interest or well attended, especially in the wake of the child abuse scandals that so damaged victims, clergy and the faithful. As we may recall, those naysayers were proven to be completely wrong.

Even the passing of the pope through the streets of New York City as he went from one scheduled stop to another brought to the curb so many who left their desks and offices that the sidewalks were lined four and five deep at times. And networks found, once more, that the Holy Father merited their coverage each time he spoke.

Pope Francis, with the simplicity of his personality and his outreach to the most defenseless has certainly caught the attention of modern society. It is often commented that he has drawn a fresh look and new attention to the Church, even from those not previously inclined to faith. He too has regularly drawn huge crowds such as estimated 3 million people who attended his Mass on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach.

Time after time, visit after visit, our country has stopped and listened when the Pope has come to visit. We might ask ourselves why?

We can certainly begin with the fact that the Catholic faithful of the United States make up nearly 25 percent of the population. For us as Catholics, the pope in our own day is not simply a human leader or a great man. Rather, he is the successor of St. Peter.

Just as Jesus made Peter the Rock and center of unity for the other Apostles and for all of the disciples, the Holy Father, as Peter’s successor bears a special help and grace from God for the faithful, the bishops and the priests of our day.

In faith, we see Pope Francis not simply as a man bearing a title of succession. Somehow, his humanity is a gift of God calling the world to Jesus Christ.

But the attention given to the pope goes beyond just that of Catholics. As in the case of Francis, the words of the pope typically touch the hearts of those far and wide.

Don’t we sense in that wide interest a deeper longing in our society for a voice and a message that raises us up beyond our daily concerns and mundane tasks? People desire a word that is different from the political divides and harsh rhetoric that so dominates our national discussions.

They long to listen to someone who is not seeking any personal advantage but who truly seeks the good of all, in this life and most importantly, in the next.

Isn’t it true as well that in the midst of the moral collapse of society and even of our families, the pope comes with a message of hope and moral guidance? There is an attraction going back to the words of Jesus Himself that tell us there is an answer to our pain, our heartbreak, our poverty and our earthly sorrows.

In short, the message of faith that comes with a papal visit is one that reminds us of who we are and of the final goal — life with Christ in heaven to which we are all called.

It is true that the message of Pope Francis is challenging to hearts and consciences. His call to respect integral human ecology, the refugee, the unborn and the elderly and the dignity of every person made in the image and likeness of God sometimes makes some feel uncomfortable. But the message of Jesus did the same. Would we really expect anything different from a call to conversion?

I hope you are praying for the Holy Father during his visit this week. And I hope you are listening to his message of faith and hope as well.