The Onion notes the effusive compassion of Pope Francis by imaging that his trip to the United States this week included an act of healing for the nation's infrastructure.
"Treating the frail, long-overlooked structures with an unparalleled display of compassion, Pope Francis reportedly inspired a crowd of onlookers Friday by laying his hands upon the ailing United States infrastructure," according to a fake, totally make-believe story by The Onion that nevertheless hinges on a profound and far-reaching truth about the United States.
According to the post, Pope Francis gently embraced a "disfigured bridge cross-girder that was covered in unsightly rust" and "reached out to the weak and crippled metal framework, gingerly kissed the decayed surface, and then closed his eyes while blessing the neglected overpass."
The post also notes how most people "turn the other way when they see such mangled, hopeless infrastructure…"
FULL STORY: Pope Francis Lays Hands On Ailing U.S. Infrastructure
Friday Funny: Gated Community Doubles Down
The Onion skewers suburbia.
Friday Funny: Tesla Invents the Greenest Car
The Fake News website The Onion reports a complete fabrication about Elon Musk and Tesla.
Friday Funny: Sprawl Can't Stop, Won't Stop
Imagine a built environment that starts from a central location of Scottsdale, Arizona, sprawling outwards until it covers 70 percent of all land on Earth.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Median Home Prices Top $1 Million in Over 200 California Towns
Towns once known for their affordability are seeing sharply rising home prices.
LA County Receives Reconnecting Communities Grants
Seven grant awards totaling $162 million will be used for planning, capital projects, and regional partnerships to reduce environmental harm and improve access in disadvantaged communities.
Seine Pollution Could Hinder Olympic Swim Events
Events like the triathlon could be impacted if tests continue to reveal high levels of dangerous bacteria in Paris’ famous river.
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