The pope has died

No, you grow up!
And if you don't I'm going to put a tariff on you!

I believe People chose their time to pass( if not involving an accident) I’ve seen it lots of times
i think Easter Sunday blessing was his goal.
He could easily have passed in hospital
My friends DH died 16 months after MND, 6 weeks after his youngest DD was married
That was his goal. He was 56, and they had been married 40 years.
Heartbreaking.

Because it's the death of a world leader - he was the leader of a country (the Vatican is an independent city state) - and the leader of a world religion with around 1.5 billion members, 8.3% of the UK adult population still regarding it as their faith, putting the denomination on a par with the number of Muslims in the UK; if you include those who were brought up in Catholic families, the number goes up to around two million more.

OK, there's not an AIBU about it, but it's the section with the most traffic, where the majority of major news stories appear.

@TheTigerWhoCameToBrunch I sincerely hope so!

That a supposed Christian could call a man living a life far closer to the principles of Jesus than any of his predecessors ‘too woke’ is exactly why the Catholic Church has alienated so many.

What was too woke for you? Not shaming the divorced? Not advocating for stoning the gay community? Encouraging the use of condoms to stop the spread of AIDS? Showing humanity for the complex and imperfect lives people live in the real world rather than judging them by a doctrine set out hundreds of years ago for the benefit of the powerful, who also fail to follow it?

Long may the wokery of decency continue to spread.

Grow up!

I’m a Catholic and this Pope was far too woke for me. Unfortunately I think the next choice will be even woker.

Just when every member
of the clergy Is absolutely knackered after Holy Week and Easter…,

Pretty sure he wanted to do it.

A good man. The world is better for him having lived, which I think is all any of us can hope for.

It said on the news I watch that the funeral must be held 4-6 days after the death of a pope.

I just watched Conclave the night before, so feel quite enthused about the results of the conclave.

I think this is very unfair, he has done a lot more than previous Popes to address child abuse in the Catholic Church, and more than many other current religious leaders.

I sincerely hope though that the example of humility, compassion and care that Pope Francis set is a bell that can't be unrung.

Exactly this @Uricon2 - it will be very hard, even for the most hard line Conservative, to revert back to the pomp, wealth and hierarchy that was normal pre-Francis, and not look like a raging hypocrite whilst alienating the masses in the developing world where the future of the Catholic Church lies.

Francis was popular because he was relatable, as much as he was compassionate. He seemed like he had lived in the world and understood the issues facing normal people. And considered himself a normal person, albeit with an extraordinary job.

Ratzinger was a cold authoritarian in expensive shoes who spoke theology, not humanity, in contrast. Going back to that will lose as many as it will comfort.

I think HMQ hung on till the Jubilee - it had been years in preparation and she wanted it to happen - she mostly withdrew from sight straight afterwards. I think Pope Francis wanted to see Easter and when that was done he could let go.

The problem any vaguely progressive Pope has is that the structures of the Catholic Church make Tolkien's Ents look like Usain Bolt on his best day. St John 23 (who I think Pope Francis had a lot in common with) did much in the 5 years of his papacy, but without a "run" of people of a similar mindset in control, everything is torturously slow. One important legacy is that he
basically seeded the College of Cardinals with a much more diverse population, although of course some of them may not share all his views.

I sincerely hope though that the example of humility, compassion and care that Pope Francis set is a bell that can't be unrung. May he rest in peace.

Funeral first. Then the conclave - lots of cardinals live outside Italy.

This. I’m not religious and I went to see him twice. I had a lot of respect for his kindness and compassion, and it was incredible seeing so many different people coming together to see him.

Rest in peace, PF.

Not religious - I am, if anything, extremely anti Catholicism thanks to childhood experiences - but I think he was a good and humble man trying to do his best within an extremely corrupt and amoral organisation.

He started the process of accountability for CSA victims and for nuns who were SA’d by male members of the church. What has taken hundreds of years to become endemic thanks to secrecy and shame, will take more to undo, and more than one man, even the pope, to undo it. That he started the process shows more compassion and humanity than any one of his predecessors.

The worry now is his successor will be a hard line conservative to counter the good Francis has done.

I've always thought HM hung on until she could make sure Johnson was gone. Perhaps PF wanted a last Easter?

Brilliant film and a must watch.

Yes definitely. He was known for being progressive and humane.

FWIW my whole family are currently watching the coverage. One atheist now but brought up as Quaker. 2 Jewish people and one very lapsed CofE. All saying how sad and hoping that Pope Francis' legacy lives on.

He wasn't forced apparently. He wanted to. Doctors had recommended two months rest. But he carried on with his duties to the best of his ability.

He met Vance realised the world was fucked so decided to abandon ship 🙁

I'm not Catholic but am saddened to hear this.

I feel quite sad about this. Francis was a good Pope.😢