The new Pope.

[Workingman]

Francis I

The first non European for 1300 years. The first Jesuit.

New boss, same as the old boss, or a breath of fresh air?

[Aggers]

New boss, same as the old boss, or a breath of fresh air?

A good question.

But it might not make much difference at all.

[Rodo]

When an Archbishop in Buenos Airies he wouldn't live in the Archbishop's palace but lived in a small flat doing his own cooking and going to work on the bus.

It sounds as though he is the ideal person to bring a breath of fresh air into the papacy. Whether he can "clean it up" is another matter but he looks sprightly enough and I'm sure he will have a good go.

[KateLMead]

I wish him luck, the first thing he needs to do is "get rid of all the paedophiles here and abroad" (as in all religions)
My brother in law and niece devout church goers decided to become Catholics, ( I will never understand why) "if one believes one believes regardless of title .
A close friend of mine tortured herself believing she would never get absolution or go to heaven due to the fact she produced a child out of wedlock, the child died and she believed she was punished by God!! Poor woman...
Religions of all persuasions have a lot to answer for.
I wish as stated the new Pope success and a good reign, that he will unite the church and will for a start change the ridiculous laws on birth control.

[Lozzles]

When an Archbishop in Buenos Airies he wouldn't live in the Archbishop's palace but lived in a small flat doing his own cooking and going to work on the bus.

It sounds as though he is the ideal person to bring a breath of fresh air into the papacy. Whether he can "clean it up" is another matter but he looks sprightly enough and I'm sure he will have a good go.

I'm happy with the choice.

[pederito1]

Yes he does look up to the job though a pity he is not a bit younger. Can do a lot of good in the world but hope he does not get wacky ideas about the Falklands.

Oh dear, just seen he already has

[KateLMead]

They never seem to have much time to change anything, next time perhaps it might be an idea to place a younger man in the position that is such a massive responsibility, he seems like a breath of fresh air, as stated I wish him luck, with all the in fighting according to the last Pope he will need it.

[meriad]

I really thought, once Pope John Paul II died and Pope Benedict was elected, that they deliberately chose an older pope so he wouldn't be in power for too long and that the church would use the time Benedict had in office to slowly start brining the Catholic Church into the 21st Century and that Benedict's successor would be a younger pope to do just that.

Same as Kate I really think the laws regarding birth control need to be amended. I also wish they'd change the law that priests can marry if they want to.

I wish this new pope a lot of luck in what isn't going to be an easy job / task

[KateLMead]

I really thought, once Pope John Paul II died and Pope Benedict was elected, that they deliberately chose an older pope so he wouldn't be in power for too long and that the church would use the time Benedict had in office to slowly start brining the Catholic Church into the 21st Century and that Benedict's successor would be a younger pope to do just that.

Same as Kate I really think the laws regarding birth control need to be amended. I also wish they'd change the law that priests can marry if they want to.
I wish this new pope a lot of luck in what isn't going to be an easy job / task

Could not agree more meriad.

[cromwell]

Good luck with it, he sounds a sensible man.

eta - Unless he leads an invasion of the Falklands, obviously.