The Cardinals have elected a new pope. They haven’t announced who they picked, yet, but the pre-announcement ceremonies have already begun. Now would be a good time to reserve Twitter handles like: John Paul III, Benedict XVII, Clement XV, John XXIV, Urban IX, etc.
Update [2013-3-13 15:56:58 by BooMan]: Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina is now Pope Francis I.
How about Jesus II.
Then clear out all the moneychangers.
Well, the early reporting on this guy suggests that he is known for forgoing perks and caring for the poor. And he picked Francis after Francis of Assisi, so that’s a pretty good sign.
It is important he is the first Latin American bishop elected pope and represents the “47% of the Catholic Church” of the America’s. However, he is from the conservative block of Jesuits and his theological positions as Bishop of Buenos Aires represents the dogma of Rome on same-sex marriage and abortion issues. I was hoping with a break from past decades and the new pope would have been close to liberal Jesuits as we have seen in Central America. The Jesuits have often been in opposition to the Bishop of Rome as seen in the historical period between 1540 and 1805 – Suppression and Restoration of the Jesuits.
Appears not a true choice was made, Bergoglio has Italian roots and is 76 years old. The college of bishops made another intermediate choice, nothing fundamental. The new pope will travel to Latin America to visit the World Youth Festival in Rio de Janeiro.
Perhaps a first? Pope Jude I
I is surprisingly quick as all the experts agreed the division was great. Only Pope Pius XII was elected in three ballots.
I can’t even imagine what Twitter is gonna do with this.
Damn. I never thought of Francis I.
I’m thrilled by the choice of a poor, humble servant of the church Jorge Bergoglio. A first for many centuries to have chosen a new name: Francis I and a first he is a Jesuit. I understand he was runner-up in the election of Benedict XVI.
And from Argentina, too, which is certainly interesting and pathbreaking.
He’s also a serious homophobe and was in cahoots with the Argentinian dictatorship in the 1970’s.
Well, you don’t rise to the top of about any major religious organization without some of that good, old fashioned hatin’ on da’ gay.
I’m shocked — never would have expected that I would agree with two/thirds of Cardinals, almost exclusively conservative to ultraconservative.
See my diary – Jorge Videla’s Dirty War and Argentine’s Catholic Hierarchy.
Is there a cardinal that hasn’t supported a fascist government or two, not been caught up in the sexual abuse cover-ups, and/or not involved in the Vatican scandals? Opus Dei is not only a product of fascism but ultra-regressive as well. Among the “moderates” a very small list — Mahoney is the only one considered progressive. Progressive enough that he went with the best contractor for his cathedral and ignored the fact that the owners are Jewish.– even smaller when limited to those appointed by JPII, there was Maradiaga, Bergoglio, and Tauran. Tauran has Parkinson’s. Maradiago – who in many ways offered the most, but has a sex abuse scandal. Bergo at least walks the talk better than most as to concern for the least advantaged. Of course he was on the same page with JPII in crushing liberation theology. However, more than anything, the conclave wanted to avoid questions of sexual abuse wrt the new pontiff and perhaps Bergo was the only one that met that criteria.
First reaction to the meaning of this:
1)Church will remain in the 13th century wrt gay rights, euthanasia, abortion, etc…
2) Church wants to appear as if it cares for the poor, will proselitize in the third world.
Will 2) be an honest effort? I’ll keep an open mind, but I sincerely doubt it.
I’m not near the TV, so I have no way of knowing, but during his first speech to his adoring public did the new Pope reach waaaaay down for a quick swig from his bottle of San Pellegrino Spring Water.
And lastly, who has been picked to give the rebuttal to the Pope’s address?
We need an anti-pope!
I wonder –if a pope and an antipope meet, do they annihilate in a flash of gamma rays?
Drat! I picked an Italian in the pool. Wrong again.
Nothing, absolutely NOTHING in his background matters if he does not step up on child abuse. Anybody want to bet against him keeping Law in Rome, instead of insisting he return to answer questions? Anybody want to bet that he takes the position that victims deserve their day in court? And does anybody believe that Argentina does not have rapers of children of their own?
He’s 76 for pete’s sake! Another tired frail old man that will point the way the court eunuch’s tell him to go.
Don’t expect change, it’s the same old coverup.
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Ha! Ha! The Italians can’t agree on anything, especially elevating one of their number above the others.
Good to see that not every voting body is dysfunctional.
In appearance and thinking, Francis (Xavier) I seems to be the return of Pius XII.
It is like John XXIII never existed.
John XXIII was killed off fast enough the Conservative elements were able to retain control of most of the Church–he wasn’t able to replace many before passing on.
Now, The Church is hidebound and determined to make itself relevant only for the most stubborn, radical, conservative, head-up-the-ass idiots remaining…No Liberal priests seem to ever get far in the Church Hierarchy….
How’s that popey-changey thing workin’ out for ya?
Most religious experts reflect about the St. Francis of Assisi, I believe it would be Francis Xavier instead. The first Jesuit missionary and worked in Asia.
Yeah…that makes more sense. I was puzzled, considering he was a Jesuit, not a Franciscan. Then I remembered FRANCIS Xavier. Oh, OK….