Pope Francis I

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Pope Francis I

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So a new Pope elected very very quickly.

Not an African, but a South American. Also, and most interesting for me, the first Jesuit ever elected to the Papacy.

(I have a soft spot for Jesuits, my grandfather having been expelled from training for the Society. :lol: )
Cardinals Opt For Popular, Seasoned Pontiff

Vatican City - In choosing a 76-year-old pope on Wednesday, cardinals clearly decided that they didn't need a vigorous, young pope who would reign for decades but rather a seasoned, popular pastor who would draw followers to the faith.

The cardinal electors overcame deep divisions to select the 266th pontiff - Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina - in a remarkably fast, five-ballot conclave.

Bergoglio, who chose the name Francis, became the first pontiff from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium.

Looking stunned, Francis shyly waved to the crowd of tens of thousands of people who gathered in St Peter's Square, marvelling that the cardinals needed to look to "the end of the earth" to find a bishop of Rome.

Francis asked for prayers for himself, and for retired Pope Benedict XVI, whose surprising resignation paved the way for the conclave that brought the first Jesuit to the papacy.

"Brothers and sisters, good evening," Francis said to wild cheers in his first public remarks as pontiff.

"You know that the work of the conclave is to give a bishop to Rome. It seems as if my brother cardinals went to find him from the end of the earth. Thank you for the welcome."

Bergoglio had reportedly finished second in the 2005 conclave that produced Benedict - who last month became the first pope to resign in 600 years.

After announcing "Habemus Papam" - "We have a pope!" - a cardinal standing on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday revealed the identity of the new pontiff, using his Latin name.

The longtime archbishop of Buenos Aires has spent nearly his entire career at home in Argentina, overseeing churches and shoe-leather priests.

Like other Jesuit intellectuals, Bergoglio has focused on social outreach. Catholics are still buzzing over his speech last year accusing fellow church officials of hypocrisy for forgetting that Jesus Christ bathed lepers and ate with prostitutes.

Bergoglio has slowed a bit with age and is feeling the effects of having a lung removed due to infection when he was a teenager.

In a lifetime of teaching and leading priests in Latin America, which has the largest share of the world's Catholics, Bergoglio has also shown a keen political sensibility as well as the kind of self-effacing humility that fellow cardinals value highly, according to his official biographer, Sergio Rubin.

Humility

He showed that humility on Wednesday, saying that before he blessed the crowd he wanted their prayers for him and bowed his head.

"Good night, and have a good rest," he said before going back into the palace.

Tens of thousands of people who braved cold rain to watch the smokestack atop the Sistine Chapel jumped in joy when white smoke poured out a few minutes past 19:00 local time, many shouting "Habemus Papam!" or "We have a pope!" - as the bells of St Peter's Basilica and churches across Rome pealed.

They cheered again when the doors to the loggia opened, and again when Bergoglio's name was announced.

"I can't explain how happy I am right now," said Ben Canete, a 32-year-old Filipino, jumping up and down in excitement.

Elected on the fifth ballot, Francis was chosen in one of the fastest conclaves in years, remarkable given there was no clear front-runner going into the vote and that the church had been in turmoil following the upheaval unleashed by Pope Benedict XVI's surprise resignation.

A winner must receive 77 votes, or two-thirds of the 115, to be named pope.

For comparison's sake, Benedict was elected on the fourth ballot in 2005 - but he was the clear front-runner going into the vote.

Pope John Paul II was elected on the eighth ballot in 1978 to become the first non-Italian pope in 455 years.

Patrizia Rizzo ran down the main boulevard to the piazza with her two children as soon as she heard the news on the car radio.

"I parked the car... and dashed to the square, she said. "It's so exciting, as Romans we had to come."

The Vatican spokesperson the Reverend Federico Lombardi said it was a "good hypothesis" that the pope would be installed next Tuesday, on the feast of St Joseph, patron saint of the universal church.

Unlike the confusion that reigned during the 2005 conclave, the smoke this time around has been clear: black during the first two rounds of burned ballots, and then a clear white on Wednesday night - thanks to special smoke flares akin to those used in soccer matches or protests that were lit in the chapel ovens.

The Vatican on Wednesday divulged the secret recipe used: potassium perchlorate, anthracene, which is a derivative of coal tar, and sulfur for the black smoke; potassium chlorate, lactose and a pine resin for the white smoke.

The chemicals are contained in five units of a cartridge that is placed inside the stove of the Sistine Chapel. When activated, the five blocks ignite one after another for about a minute apiece, creating the steady stream of smoke that accompanies the natural smoke from the burned ballot papers.

Despite the great plumes of smoke that poured out of the chimney, neither the Sistine frescoes nor the cardinals inside the chapel suffered any smoke damage, Lombardi said.

- AP
--A
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Post by Menolly »

I would like someone to explain the buzz about a Jesuit being elected pope; I don't know enough about the religious orders to understand why electing a Jesuit is so unusual. From what I have heard so far, he seems like a humble, charitable, giving man.

Also, I have heard exclamations of surprise that a Jesuit would choose the name Francis. I understand it is for Francis of Assisi, and I understand the name has never been chosen before, although that is something else I don't understand. But, why wouldn't a Jesuit choose Francis for a name? Merely because it is the name of another religious order? What does that have to do with anything?
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Post by Avatar »

The Jesuits and the Papacy have traditionally been at odds over many issues. Some Popes have tried to disband the Society of Jesus in the past, and Jesuits have tried to dethrone Popes IIRC.

Traditionally, the Jesuits have been much more open to debates on issues of doctrine and ecclesiastical law etc. They're known as scholars, logicians, and perhaps have a reputation of being more rational (and pragmatic) than Papal officials would like (or find comfortable).

I look forward to seeing if he brings this attitude to the Papacy.

--A
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Post by Menolly »

Avatar wrote:Traditionally, the Jesuits have been much more open to debates on issues of doctrine and ecclesiastical law etc. They're known as scholars, logicians, and perhaps have a reputation of being more rational (and pragmatic) than Papal officials would like (or find comfortable).
So, Jesuits are the Catholic version of those who engage in Talmudic pilpul?
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Post by Fist and Faith »

I think Emilio Sandoz made them all view Jesuits in a much better light.
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Post by lucimay »

menolly, i heard the commentators yesterday talking about bergoglio having taken the name Francis, it was expected that he would take the name of the founder of the Society of Jesus (jesuits), Ignatius of Loyola. that he took the name Francis (after Francis of Assisi) indicates (at least to Cardinal Egan and others who were commenting) his commitment to the poor and downtrodden. Egan went on and on rapturously over bergoglio's appointment (or election or whatever you call it) saying that he was a wonderful and very giving and spiritual man who helped him (egan) a lot during the whole 9/11 stuff.
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Post by ussusimiel »

Fist and Faith wrote:I think Emilio Sandoz made them all view Jesuits in a much better light.
:lol:

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Post by Fire Daughter »

God bless Pope Francis I!

The Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

This was one of my mother's favorite prayers, she recited it daily to help give her strength for the works she believed she must do and for walking the path God placed before her.

When we saw that the new Pope chose Francis for his name, we all smiled and thought of Mom, and how maybe she had a small hand in the choice. :-)
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Post by Vraith »

Avatar wrote:The Jesuits and the Papacy have traditionally been at odds over many issues. Some Popes have tried to disband the Society of Jesus in the past, and Jesuits have tried to dethrone Popes IIRC.

Traditionally, the Jesuits have been much more open to debates on issues of doctrine and ecclesiastical law etc. They're known as scholars, logicians, and perhaps have a reputation of being more rational (and pragmatic) than Papal officials would like (or find comfortable).

I look forward to seeing if he brings this attitude to the Papacy.

--A
Heh... they are also blamed [credited?] with starting & pushing Socialism by some.
There may be a dual purpose/meaning to choosing Francis...because one of the most important Jesuits, first generation I believe, and also a Saint, was a Francis.
In some ways the Jesuits are the originators of "What would Jesus do?"
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Post by StevieG »

Most Catholics that I know seem pleased with the choice.
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Post by Damelon »

There's an interesting historical article on the Jesuits on the Economist webpage today.
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Post by Avatar »

Nice article, thanks Damelon.

Yes, an interesting bunch the Jesuits.

I see though that this one might not be all that liberal. Apparently he has equated adoption by gay couples with child abuse. sigh*
Menolly wrote:So, Jesuits are the Catholic version of those who engage in Talmudic pilpul?
Hahaha, depending on the context in which you use it, yes, in a certain sense.

(I see this Pope also has a Masters degree in Chemistry of all things. :D )

--A
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Post by Menolly »

Thanks for the info all, especially lucimay. I truly hope Cardinal Egan and the other commentators are correct; it would be great to have a pope who focuses on the poor and downtrodden.

If he did equate adoption by gay couples with child abuse, I am disappointed but not completely surprised. However, I did hear as a cardinal himself he told the priests under his supervision to baptize children of single mothers. Apparently that goes against the norm of church teachings. So, there is still hope...
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Post by Cambo »

When they elect a Pope who isn't anti-gay and anti-sex, then I'll be impressed. Of course, that would take a radical overhaul of the entire religion. So I'm not holding my breath.
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Post by sgt.null »

Cambo : the pope isn't anti-sex. he wants it reserved for marriage is all.

he seems a humble man and he has my prayers. in fact he asked for his cardinals to pray for him before anything else.

not his fault the world is so base and corrupt.
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Post by Cambo »

Depends on your definitions, Sarge. An abstinence-only before marriage approach, especially when marriage is also limited to straight people, is anti-sex in my book.
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Post by Menolly »

Baby steps, Cambo. Allowing priests to baptize children of single mothers is a step in the right direction, nu?
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Post by Orlion »

Menolly wrote:Baby steps, Cambo. Allowing priests to baptize children of single mothers is a step in the right direction, nu?
I'm going to have to step in and say: I have never seen or heard of any Catholic priests that would not baptize children merely because they had single mothers.

If pre-Pope Francis had to tell priests under his charge in Argentina to do so, then I imagine it was a more localized phenomena due to various upheavals in Argentinian politics since the turn of the 19th century.
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Post by Menolly »

Orlion wrote:
Menolly wrote:Baby steps, Cambo. Allowing priests to baptize children of single mothers is a step in the right direction, nu?
I'm going to have to step in and say: I have never seen or heard of any Catholic priests that would not baptize children merely because they had single mothers.
This is good to hear. I am glad it is not wide-spread church doctrine to not baptize children, regardless of their circumstances.
Orlion wrote:If pre-Pope Francis had to tell priests under his charge in Argentina to do so, then I imagine it was a more localized phenomena due to various upheavals in Argentinian politics since the turn of the 19th century.
That could be. I know the commentators discussing it made it sound as if he was standing against accepted doctrine. Perhaps they did not clarify that it was within Argentina only.
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Post by Orlion »

Menolly wrote:
Orlion wrote:
Menolly wrote:Baby steps, Cambo. Allowing priests to baptize children of single mothers is a step in the right direction, nu?
I'm going to have to step in and say: I have never seen or heard of any Catholic priests that would not baptize children merely because they had single mothers.
This is good to hear. I am glad it is not wide-spread church doctrine to not baptize children, regardless of their circumstances.
Orlion wrote:If pre-Pope Francis had to tell priests under his charge in Argentina to do so, then I imagine it was a more localized phenomena due to various upheavals in Argentinian politics since the turn of the 19th century.
That could be. I know the commentators discussing it made it sound as if he was standing against accepted doctrine. Perhaps they did not clarify that it was within Argentina only.
I don't necessarily blame them. I recently found out that there is a lot of misinformation about the Catholic Church. Namely, it is not official Catholic Church doctrine that unbaptized infants are condemned to hell. Their actual stance boils down to "we do not know." There are also various other exceptions to the 'baptism by water is necessary for salvation' rule.

I'm ultimately not surprised ... the US was, after all, pretty much founded by groups that were not sympathetic to Catholicism.
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