According to Wikipedia he is open to discussing the use of contraception if one member of the married couple had an std but opponsed Argentina' free contraception. Also Wikipedia said he lead the fight to prevent the legalization of gay marriage in Argentina.

 

It is bizarre how such conflicting info is in the media.

 

Ha...you're right. I've found a barrage of info about his stance against gay marriage now.

It seems our new pope has a sense of humor. Following his introduction to the public, he dined with the cardinals who elected him. Prior to dinner, the cardinals toasted the new pope, and in return he toasted them by saying "May God forgive you!"

Warning: good Catholic humor on the way!

 

Off topic, but their accent is awesome. Argentina has an Italian accent to its Spanish.

 

It was mentioned that about 50% of Argentina is of Italian descent. Didn't know that.

Serious question do you feel the Italian Cardinals found it easier to elect a Latin American Pope of Italian decent. It is a perfect storm for Pope Francis. The Church needed a Latin American pope and the easiest way to get the European cardinals behind it was finding one of Italian decent. This choice was a great one and even most haters of the church will struggle to find negative with this selection.

 

Honestly, no. I feel like the Cardinals who were involved in the election of the Pope are able to look past the heritage of those they were voting amongst. The idea is that they are praying for the inspiration of God's will through the Holy Spirit in the election process, after all, so if God wills a non-European Pope, then God will get a non-European Pope.

Honestly, no. I feel like the Cardinals who were involved in the election of the Pope are able to look past the heritage of those they were voting amongst. The idea is that they are praying for the inspiration of God's will through the Holy Spirit in the election process, after all, so if God wills a non-European Pope, then God will get a non-European Pope.

 

Just took them a few centuries to get there...

I have been reading articles about him and one article asked people to vote and explain their vote. It seems the extremes do not care for him. The hard right is not happy that a Jesuit is Pope with their soft liberal Liberation Theology views (despite Pope Francis opposing Liberation Theology) and the left his accusing him of being another gay hating, women hating old conservative white guy. I would say when both extremes do not like you, that speaks well of you.

 

That's been my reading on this as well. Some of my more ardent traditionalist friends are extremely wary... and maybe they should be: Pope Benedict's motu proprio on the Traditional Latin Mass was the first ray of hope those people have seen over the last few papacies with regard to the things they value.

 

The far left is its same old self.

 

Personally, I think his lifelong devotion to the poor, to our Lady and to the Church will do some good. I wish him long life and many fruitful years in the Chair of St. Peter.

It is bizarre how such conflicting info is in the media.

 

The mainstream media is not equipped to properly cover the affairs of the Church. They don't have a basic understanding of her teachings or works and they have neither the capacity for nor the inclination to subtlety that is required.

 

The left-leaning media will love him for his devotion to the poor and revile him for reinforcing the Church's positions on life, the ordination of women and gay marriage. The right will love him for those stances I just mentioned thought in America to be "socially conservative" and they will revile him for speaking about capitalism's lack of a moral compass.

 

Catholicism does not fit neatly into the current American political narrative, that's part of what makes it difficult for the mainstream media to deal with.

Sorry to roll on three straight posts here, but I've been reading a lot over the last few days and the beginning of a new papacy has me all worked up.

 

Pope Francis' first day on the job began with a surprise trip to one of the major basilicas in Rome: St. Mary Major. The basilica's priests and staff were given 10 minutes notice he was coming. He arrived and prayed before a statute of the Madonna called "Protectress of the Roman People" and before the tomb of Pope Saint Pius V. There is also a picture of him giving a blessing to an unborn child.

 

Good start.

Just took them a few centuries to get there...

 

Agreed...but to a certain extent, I think there is something to be said to the fact that the faithful of Latin America and their willingness to be led by a European Pope. If the Latin American Catholics of the past were perfectly willing to be led by a European Pope, and those European Popes were capable of properly fulfilling the duties of the Pontiff, then it would seem that the Pope's heritage was little more than a detail.

First, as a non-Catholic, let me say that I celebrate with you on your election of a new pope!

 

Secondly, I cannot say just how cool it is that he was an educational background in chemistry! My kind of pope!

 

So you are saying Communal wine will be a blended wine?