Our Views: New pope is historic

Watching the elevation of an Argentine cardinal to the papacy of the Roman Catholic Church, we were reminded that the word “catholic” means “universal.” The Catholic Church is, indeed, a global institution, and as the first pope to hail from Latin America, Pope Francis promises to affirm the church’s broad reach beyond Europe. Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, is the first non-European pope in more than a thousand years.

Francis has his work cut out for him. The church has been rocked by scandals involving the sexual abuse of children by some priests — and subsequent attempts by church leaders to cover up that abuse.

The new pope’s challenges are of special interest in heavily Catholic south Louisiana.

We know that many local Catholics will be watching the new pope, and praying for his success. But even beyond the ranks of Catholics, popes are regarded as world leaders.

Francis has newfound influence to do good in the world. We hope he meets that promise.

Comments

1) Comment by Bouncer - 16/03/2013

Giggity-giggity-goo.

2) Comment by [e-mail] - 16/03/2013

I stand corrected Bouncer. In relation to your comment, I had an atheist friend who was the most moral, ethical, and truthful man I've ever known until he got religion and joined the church. Now he's the most moral, ethical, and truthful Christian man I've ever known.

3) Comment by Bighug - 16/03/2013

twinkie, when I started reading your comments I thought you were going to claim the Catholic Church was discriminatory against women. They have made it plain that only men may lead in their church because Jesus and the disciples were all men. They were also all Jews. Why isn't the pope required to be Jewish?

4) Comment by DMJ - 15/03/2013

Meet the new boss...same as the old boss.

5) Comment by twinkie1cat - 15/03/2013

The word "catholic" does mean universal, but the Roman Catholic Church is far from it. In fact it the most discriminatory of all churches of the Christian tradition. Wasn't it John Paul that said it was the ONLY Christian church. That is just wrong and offensive and needs to be corrected. I went to a Catholic church for about 6 months, a long time ago. The only time I felt like I was in church was when I was singing with the choir. It was a black church so the music was excellent and the choir director was not a Catholic.. The sermon seemed to be an afterthought and the only thing important appeared to be the pomp and rituals which, as far as I am concerned are something that is not worshipping God and totally unnecessary to worship.>>>>>>>>>I hope this new pope has a change of heart, comes off of the conservatism and really fixes his church.

6) Comment by twinkie1cat - 15/03/2013

Well, he has a connection with the common people and the poor and has lived a normal life. I love that he used public transportation, cooked his own food, and lived in an apartment instead of a palace. That much is very good. Apparently he's not some grandiose Republican type.>>>>>>>> But he went and, first thing, called equal rights as being of the devil and also opposes contraception. How can someone oppose contraception and be an advocate for the poor??? Anyone with good sense knows that one of the highest indicators of poverty is having more children than you can afford. The way to keep from having too many children is to use birth control. It is that simple. I am hoping he will have a change of heart on both the issue of equal rights and contraception. Otherwise, he will be no better than the last two popes and will keep the Catholic Church mired in the 12th century.

7) Comment by Bouncer - 15/03/2013

"Shepherd" is the correct spelling of the word. In any case, anyone who needs an old guy with a funny hat "leading" him in matters of conscience and morality doesn't have a great deal of moral fortitude to begin with. It's simply easier to retreat behind "church doctrine" than to actually think things through for yourself. JMHO.

8) Comment by [e-mail] - 15/03/2013

The main thing to remember about Pope Francis is that he's the Pope, the shepard of the faithful, not some sort of catspaw for those who advocate for radical social change or an easily intimidated tool of the progressives who'll try to bend him to their goals.