There's a new pope

[NxNW]

One of two posts by the Onion (the other not being printable here) :

 

[Michie]

Trump is going to have a handful with this new Pope. Which will be enjoyable to watch.

I don’t know. Being a centrist I think he will be willing to weigh in both sides of issues people have. That is what I’m hoping for. Being extreme on either side seems to plug the ears.

 

[Hvizsgyak]

The conclave may have been considering that the Catholic Church is losing alot of members in North America to "spiritual but not religious", and in South America, Catholicism is also declining. In fact, if not for immigration, Catholicism would be the fastest declining religion in the United States.

Catholicism may be declining in parts of the world but it's clutch time and those who are staying with the true Church of God are true believers (we may be far from perfect, but we are sticking with what Jesus said is the Truth - the gates of hell will not prevail against this Church). All true Christian hope and pray that all would come to know Jesus Christ, follow and believe and that none would be lost. Sadly, some cannot accept God and they turn away. Even in the Church, there are those who turn away.

The Church doesn't deal in size games. Whoever believes lives. Those who turn away from God - it's their choice. The Church will remain strong no matter how many believe.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

I hope this doesn't offend any Catholic friends. I just thought it was funny because my wife's family is from Chicago. So I am a Bears fan by marriage.

 

[Michie]

View attachment 364707
I hope this doesn't offend any Catholic friends. I just thought it was funny because my wife's family is from Chicago. So I am a Bears fan by marriage.

Nah! We have a sense of humor!

 

[FireDragon76]

He's apparently considered a "centrist with progressive tendencies" and was critical of Vance and MAGA even while he was still a Cardinal.

That's just part of modern Catholic social ethics, it doesn't necessarily indicate he is particularly progressive.

It looks to me like Trump and his Christian pals might have formidable new enemy.

I expect the Pope, or any clergy of a traditional Christian church, to have a less adversarial approach to worldly politics in their official duties, much as Bishop Marianne Budde did several months ago. There are higher ethics at stake than simply scoring cheap rhetorical points.

The pastor at our church last Sunday simply prayed "And we pray for our leaders... even though it seems like it would take a miracle, because we know you are in the business of miracles".

 

[Michie]

Who is Pope Leo XIV? A bio of the first American pope

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, May 8 — the first pope from the United States.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

 

[Malleeboy]

English and Spanish speaking, that covers 2 billion people. Given Pope Francis communication challenges, I wonder having a native English speaker had any weight, given English is currently the world's lingua franca.

 

[Michie]

Leo XIV speaks five languages, and notably addressed a crowd at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in both Italian and Spanish during his first remarks after becoming pope. Speaking Spanish will help him connect with many of Miami's Catholics, just as Francis, born in Argentina, did.

https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article305999086.html

 

[FireDragon76]

Leo XIV speaks five languages, and notably addressed a crowd at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican in both Italian and Spanish during his first remarks after becoming pope. Speaking Spanish will help him connect with many of Miami's Catholics, just as Francis, born in Argentina, did.

https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article305999086.html

Catholic clergy have to do more than merely speaking Spanish. There has to be serious engagement with this community as adults with spiritual autonomy, not patronizing them as "lost sheep", or taking them for granted, as is the case among Catholics and many cultural elites in the US. Where I live in Orlando, I am surrounded by Hispanic neighbors, and a great many are not Catholics. Many go to a variety of Protestant churches, including my own congregation. Many are Pentecostals, as our associate pastor was at one time.

 

[FireDragon76]

Jesus was never political and neither were his apostles.

In the 1st century context, his association with John the Baptist, his pronouncing of judgement on the temple, his criticism of Herod, and his friendship with sinners were all political acts.

 

[RileyG]

I don’t know. Being a centrist I think he will be willing to weigh in both sides of issues people have. That is what I’m hoping for. Being extreme on either side seems to plug the ears.

I agree completely.

 

[7thKeeper]

Twofold Pope Leo XIII was a champion of the worker, fair wages, the poor being treated respectfully and with dignity and Leo the Lion. Pope Leo XIV will be a leader and champion for the same causes. That's my take on the name.

Same was predicted in a few articles about the choice over here as well.

 

[7thKeeper]

Are the two necessarily mutually exclusive?

For someone who believes in the deep state conspiracy unironically apparent, I'd say yes.

 

[RileyG]

What about following and preaching the teachings of Jesus? Does the Pope want to do God's work or does the Pope want to be loved by the world?

He. did follow and preach the teachings of Jesus. That what his life was about.

 

[RileyG]

The world might try to hijack him as they did Pope Francis.

Indeed. Which is why I don't get my religious or spiritual information from secular sources unless I find it credible.

 

[Michie]

Indeed. Which is why I don't get my religious or spiritual information from secular sources unless I find it credible.

Yes they are very selective on how they report things within the Church. Better to go to Catholic sources where reporters actually are familiar with the subject.

 

[RileyG]

Yes they are very selective on how they report things within the Church. Better to go to Catholic sources where reporters actually are familiar with the subject.

I agree 100%.

 

[Michie]

I wouldn’t bother Riley.

 

[RileyG]

I wouldn’t bother Riley.

I did my best.