Who are your favorite Popes?

[Rhamiel]

My favorite Popes are John XXIII, who was the Pope when I was a child, and Francis.

In a world that has changed more in the past century than in the previous 6,000 years since humankind has walked the earth, John XXIII realized that the Church needed to change, too. And so, although he had been expected to reliably maintain the status quo, he did the unexpected. Truly the Holy Spirit had a hand in his election.

John Paul II and Benedict XVI were great scholars, and along came Francis, who is living proof that there are many kinds of intelligence. He has extraordinary emotional intelligence, and although he is scholarly, he always leads with his heart. He is humble and authentic--the real deal.

I have heard it described like this
for both John Paul II and Benedict XVI, the Cardinals were looking for "the smartest man in the room"
many people who were close to Benedict XVI said he was most comfortable talking with university students (he was a professor) there was one story about how he gave a talk in a University in Rome after he became Pope and afterwards he just spent hours in the reception hall of the collage nursing a beer and just listing to the comments the students had to make and answering a few questions but mostly just fostering conversations between the students
John Paul II was a mystic
Benedict was a professor
and Francis is a pastor

? Not meaning to sidetrack, but human beings have been around for hundreds of thousands of years. Or did you mean "civilization?"

Fantine is a Young Earth Creationist, didn't you know that, she firmly believes that mankind (and the earth itself) is only 6,000 years old

 

[Colin]

The younger generation is probably not aware how dangerous the times were during the cold war.

I remember very well the most dangerous time during the cold war......those most fearful days of the Cuban Missile Crisis when the world was on the brink of nuclear war .

Not many are aware of the part Good Pope John , as the world came to know him , played in averting nuclear war during this crisis .

A War Prevented: Pope John XXIII and the Cuban Missile Crisis.......

http://www.crisismagazine.com/2011/preventing-war-pope-john-xxiii-and-the-cuban-missile-crisis

 

[Fantine]

I believe in theological evolution but I do think that mankind as we know it has only been walking the earth 6000 years. Rosh Hashanah celebrates the New Year from the time of Adam and Eve. They don't go back as far as Neanderthal and Cro Magnun periods.

 

[bill5]

I believe in theological evolution but I do think that mankind as we know it has only been walking the earth 6000 years.

?? Those two beliefs are mutually exclusive.

Rosh Hashanah celebrates the New Year from the time of Adam and Eve. They don't go back as far as Neanderthal and Cro Magnun periods.

Not sure what relevance Rosh Hashanah has, but OK, was just curious, not meaning to start up a thing about it.

 

[benedictaoo]

I love the 80's

me too...

 

[benedictaoo]

Here is JPII when he came to Boston. The crowds were massive.

He came to New Orleans in 1987. I wish I would have not missed that. I went to Ft Walton beach, Florida instead, I remember that, I was I think 19 and I didn't know better. He drove around the Superdome in his pope mobile blessing the football field and it was the first winning season the Saints ever had that year and to this day it's where the slogan "Bless you boys..." referring to the Saints, came from, the pope's visit.

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

He came to New Orleans in 1987. I wish I would have not missed that. I went to Ft Walton beach, Florida instead, I remember that, I was I think 19 and I didn't know better. He drove around the Superdome in his pope mobile blessing the football field and it was the first winning season the Saints ever had that year and to this day it's where the slogan "Bless you boys..." referring to the Saints, came from, the pope's visit.

They were heady times.

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

As they were when Pope Paul VI came to New York.......

As they were when Pope Paul VI came to Africa......

As they were when Pope Paul VI came to India.....

Don't live in India or NYC, so I Figured I would comment on my city.

 

[Stabat Mater dolorosa]

Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Pius XI.
Furthermore, has anybody thought of St Peter as a choice?

If it's a valid choice I'm afraid I'm forced to go with him

 

[benedictaoo]

That's the most beautiful image...

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

That's the most beautiful image...

Such an iconic photo.

 

[benedictaoo]

I certainly agree with your choice of John XXIII and Francis. The Popes in between were an unfortunate setback.

get out of here with that nonsense...

 

[benedictaoo]

Probably my favorite Pope. He seemed strong, deeply spiritual yet uncompromising.
He stood strong with Lech Walesa of Solidarity and Ronald Reagan against the Soviet Union. It was very effective.

The younger generation is probably not aware how dangerous the times were during the cold war. I remember when JPII came to Boston, the crowds were huge.

and
Jpll being such a Marian pope, his devotion to Mary is what made him so great, IMO.