new Pope

LRD - did you go to the secret archives exhibition last year, lux in arcana? Only a tiny selection but it was fascinating

Well this Jew isn't pleased with him . If there must be a pope, I suppose he'll do as well as any other. But the whole papacy is just a cess-pit of bigotry, misogynism and abuse-covering-up. It makes me sick and needs to be completely dismantled and rebuilt into something with at least a vague connection to the real world.

All the popes look the same to me.

At least this one wasn't in the hitler youth.

I find it immensely disturbing he had to campaign for the baptism of children of single mothers. But as with the golden throne, I'm not blaming him, just being depressed by the situation.

I wish they'd let more people into the Vatican library, but we'll see ...

nooooo they mustn't sell all their treasures

am sure it is not his personal property to dispose of anyway

The golden throne isn't his fault? No, it's not, I'm just wondering if he'll preach against poverty while sitting in it, or refuse and continue to live a more frugal life, or whether he'll sell it all off and give the money to CAFOD.

that is hardly his fault is it!

The Jews seem pleased with him anyway, jpost

I wonder how a Pope who is so against social inequality will deal with sitting on a golden throne surrounded by priceless artworks.

I took it to mean that he's against the trappings of clerical life especially where it leads to hypocrisy; he didn't live in the Palace and continued to work hands on with the destitute.

If reminding Catholics of their obligations to help the sick and those on the margins of society is risible, then yes I suppose there is no reason to hope the changes he has supported to date will bring positives either to the Church or to society.

Of course, it's far too early to tell how far he will bring his existing attitudes into the Vatican.

PMSL scaevola does this mean we have a Pope who is more liberal then rad feminist re the Prostitutes?

This is the article that Wiki quotes. It says that his intercession probably secured their freedom.

Interesting too that he campaigned to permit the baptism of the children of single mothers, and that he has spoken against clerical hypocrisy, giving a reminder that Jesus dined with lepers and prostitutes.

It's on Wikipedia not very reliable I know under the pre papacy section. There is also a book about it apparently.

Sheep do you have a link for that?

At the moment the telly is highlighting his good points (appropriate for today), but it'll be interesting to see what else comes out after the time for initial celebrations passes.

He is linked to the kidnapping and torture of two priests in the 80s and the torture and murder of many people in Argentina. Oh joy.

he is quite progressive though, has a social conscience, thinks women should have more senior Curial positions, and although not pro gay marriage speaks against homophobia

it is a good outcome

I know what you mean Hassled. I am a little disappointed too. I would like someone to change the way the catholic church does things, cos it has such a massive influence (1.2 billion catholics in the world, after all.) But I am not religious at all, no connection to the catholic church.

But he seems a lot NICER than the old pope, so that's a start.

Sorry - I do know why I'm so disappointed. That was a stupid thing to say.

I don't know why I'm so disappointed - I'm not religious at all. Good that he ticks the "contraception OK to stop disease" box and good that no link with any scandals, but he's not the progessive I naively hoped they'd come up with. Guardian site says:

The archbishop of Buenos Aires is a Jesuit intellectual who travels by bus and has a practical approach to poverty: when he was appointed a cardinal, Bergoglio persuaded hundreds of Argentinians not to fly to Rome to celebrate with him but instead to give the money they would have spent on plane tickets to the poor. He was a fierce opponent of Argentinas decision to legalise gay marriage in 2010, arguing children need to have the right to be raised and educated by a father and a mother. He was created a cardinal by John Paul II on 21 February 2001.

Oh yawn.

I take it he's a male Catholic?

The word "progressive" and Catholic don't really go together.

The gay marriage thing pisses me off. He does say we should respect and be kind to gay people though, so that's a start.

What pisses me off most is the condom thing. When the hell are the catholic church going to get their stupid heads out of their behinds and just say it's fine? It is KILLING people.

Oh goody

Hmm. He's against gay married because children need mothers and fathers.

He sounds really progressive and all.