Pope Francis laments American universities that are ‘too liberal’ and ‘only train technicians’

[Badger]

His use of the term liberal in this context is going to confuse some people, but it is not inaccurate.

It certainly is. I read the article and it didn't really offer context for his use of the term liberal,. However, ironically he seems to be supporting broad-based liberal arts education which is quite contrary to most modern day political conservatives views that a college needs to be pretty much all stem research or hard Sciences, because someone needs to use their degree to make cheaper larger TV sets or diet pills, not actually learn how to exercise critical thinking.

[Badger]

(I'm going to ignore his use of "liberal" which is confusing)

Is he saying that American universities focus too much on job skills and not on a broad renaissance education? Isn't it the opposite?

I think it’s a question of perspective, I think that people complain about is more that the things some people learn on American universities are a waste of time rather than it’s too generalist.

I agree with that

(I'm going to ignore his use of "liberal" which is confusing)

Is he saying that American universities focus too much on job skills and not on a broad renaissance education? Isn't it the opposite?

That's the orthodoxy throughout most of the American education policy chattering classes, yes. Francis disagrees with them.

I wonder what made Pope Francis comment on American universities

He was speaking to a group of Spanish University professors and scholars. I suppose it came up as a compare/contrast point.