As Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersNYT editorial board remembers Ginsburg: She 'will forever have two legacies' Two GOP governors urge Republicans to hold off on Supreme Court nominee Sanders knocks McConnell: He's going against Ginsburg's 'dying wishes' MORE (I-Vt.) takes his battle for powerful financial reform to primary and caucus states, Pope Francis Pope FrancisPope seeks to prevent Mafia from using Virgin Mary imagery Pope: No one should seek to profit from pandemic Priest tapped to be bishop by Pope Francis resigns after sexual abuse probe MORE this week took his call for powerful financial reform to Bolivia, where he criticized the "mentality of profit at any price."

ADVERTISEMENT

In a must-read story for pundits and voters who are interested in how the economy will play in the 2016 presidential election, The Wall Street Journal on Friday ran an important story under the headline "Pope calls for Globalization of Hope." Speaking in Bolivia this week, and using words that could have easily been spoken by Sanders and in some instances have been, the Journal quoted Francis as criticizing "corporations, loan agencies, certain free trade treaties, and the imposition of measures of austerity."

No doubt the American right and most Republicans, who champion the trickle-down economics that Francis condemns, will continue their criticism of the pope, while Sanders and other liberal and populist Democrats will applaud the words of the pope in Bolivia and when he addresses a joint session of Congress.

There is something profound happening when Sanders promotes causes and values that are supported by a majority of voters at the same time that Francis uses almost the same words and promotes almost identical causes with the unique moral authority he brings to the table of economic debate.

As I wrote in my latest column, there is a progressive wave that is growing across America and indeed the world. It is great that Sanders is championing these causes, it is good that Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Democratic super PAC to hit Trump in battleground states over coronavirus deaths Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE is moving in more progressive directions, and the power of the movement and the moment will be dramatized when Francis rises to address a joint session of Congress in September.

Budowsky was an aide to former Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas) and former Rep. Bill Alexander (D-Ark.), who was then chief deputy majority whip of the House. He holds an LL.M. degree in international financial law from the London School of Economics. Contact him at brentbbi@webtv.net.