The pope has died

I probably will watch it - and/or listen to it, if RTÉ broadcast it.

Fair enough though, to placate the outraged, for those of us who are tentacles of the Vatican to identify ourselves. 🐙🇻🇦

How do we indicate a flag at half mast?

I shall record the funeral and watch it later.

I watched the documentary on him and it was interesting to see his personal and spiritual development over the years.

I still remember him coming onto the balcony in 2013 and his warmth and genuine humanity when he smiled at everyone and then said Buonasera. Just wonderful.

RIP Pope Francis

@ExtraOnions Im unlikely to watch the full funeral as away for the weekend. But will watch highlights. Or maybe in catch up

I need to look up Cardinal Tagle - why him?

Who will be watching the funeral?

Catholic here, and I’ll be watching.

I’m wearing black for the whole of the official mourning period (much to the entertainment of the none-believers in the house)

I’ll be interested to see how different it is to the previous ones.

I’m #TeamTagle

@Ellinor Too funny to respond to
Of course it’s not alright. But your posts are anti RC, and that’s all there is to it. There is plenty moral corruption in the world. Plenty child abuse etc. Evil people everywhere. Blame the person. Maybe RC didn’t believe it was happening. People didn’t believe Jimmy Savilke was abusing children. It’s a part of our hideous history, but it’s not just the RC Church. doesn’t make it right. But not the point of this chat.

You really don’t care that the Pope has died. Have you ever read his books? Do you know how he admitted to his own mistakes, how much he apologised and grieved about the child abuse that happened before he was pope?

It’s basically just a chance to attack an institution that you have a grudge against. Go and attack the BBC, the Anglican Church, teachers that take advantage of their position- as happened to me. I don’t hold it against all of people in education- but boy did it screw up my life.

Plenty of moral corruption in the world, so that’s alright then? I am afraid I have much higher standards which is why I am not religious / church goer as it would involve lowering my moral standards and principles.

There’s plenty of moral corruption in the world.
Vatican/ RC are not as bad as some, even if mistakes have been made in the past.
it’s just an easy target.

Only if you think opposing moral corruption is boring. I don’t and I lost what I want. The Vatican makes me shiver 🥶

I suppose it's all wait and see about synodality now.

I think Benedict did a very good thing in standing down, and I'm sorry that there was no effort made to establish a process where that became standard at - say 80. Or maybe there was, and they couldn't work out how to do it - does it involve the withdrawal of the principle of infallibility, a badly thought out doctrine, which is why it has only been invoked the once, but still there and problematic.

Yes, I'd agree with that. If you are a 66 year old cardinal you aren't going to elect a 59 year old because he's likely to live a similar length of time to you and that means you can kiss goodbye to getting a chance in a few years time. Vote for a cardinal in their late seventies and they'll likely be gone in a few years and you are still young enough to have a shot.
And some say that they elect older popes to avoid long papacies where a pope could do a lot of "damage" if he takes the Church in a direction you don't agree with.

@Ellinor You know fine it’s not private. But I want you to know how boring the anti RC is. We’ve heard it a million times. If you’d actually studied Catholicism and had something to say, I would listen

Why is everyone so gripey on Mumsnet these days? Someone’s died.

Sorry what? Is this a private thread?

@Ellinor See above.

It’s high time they elect a female pope. What is it with all the men?

I would only respect a pope if he sold off the gold and glitter owned by the catholic church and gave to the poor. Nasty institution.

The people who have no clue about Catholicism- specifically RC - should just get off this thread.
You don’t care the Pope has died. Why are you posting

Yup, more than a billion and a quarter Catholics worldwide, each and every single one of us a noodly tentacle feeding information back to the Vatican.

Eat your heart out, Flying Spaghetti Monster.

Absolutely, the pope (the Vatican) is incredibly influential, their organisation has tentacles all over the world. It's not so much about the faithful (but they do underpin the continued wealth) its about the power, it's about what they know and who they have access to.

When there's a new pope you will see all the major world leaders cueing up to see him, and they're not doing it for the votes of the Catholics (although thats nice), they're doing it for the favours and the influence.

Wisdom from the women drinking tea this morning was that 'young cardinals elect old popes', to increase their own chances of a shot at the job before too long.

It's a Papist Plot to convert Britain back to the one true faith!
Only kidding. But I recall the hysteria when it was rumoured Princess Diana was going to convert. Suddenly we were back in the 16th century. In the editorial pages of the Times and Telegraph anyway.

Yes, I can well believe that. It is all about influence.

Almost. It's because the Vatican is extremely rich and powerful. They reputedly have one of the best secret intelligence agencies in the world. THIS is why the pope is still so relevant to so many world leaders.

..and I say this as a confirmed, slightly lapsed, Catholic.

@Annascaul - it's really weird. They seem to be stopping selfies with him in background but that's all. It's a free for all apart from that!!

The Pope is a worldwide leader of Catholics - it's not about how many Catholics there are in any given country, it's about how many there are in the world. Compare the extensive coverage in the UK of the US Presidential Elections - that's not based on there being a large population of Americans in the UK, it's based on the global importance and reach of the leader.