I have to admit, I like this guy. He openly hugs the poor and diseased, he has no problem with gays, he warns against the evils of blind greed and he's cool with the idea of evolution and thinks it doesn't contradict the concept of God (albeit, all of these 'approvals' are naturally colored via the lens of his faith). He even was deeply in love and considered marriage to his girlfriend (apparently she was hawt) before his call to God compelled him to join the priesthood.

As one born and raised Catholic, I'm feeling less fire and brimstone and more warmth and compassion. I haven't been to mass in over a decade but this guy is my favorite pontiff so far by a wide margin. I bet he fishes too.


From the HuffPo last week:

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis on Monday (Oct. 27) waded into the controversial debate over the origins of human life, saying the big bang theory did not contradict the role of a divine creator, but even required it.

The pope was addressing the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, which gathered at the Vatican to discuss “Evolving Concepts of Nature.”

“When we read about Creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything. But that is not so,” Francis said.

“He created human beings and let them develop according to the internal laws that he gave to each one so they would reach their fulfillment.”

Francis said the beginning of the world was not “a work of chaos” but created from a principle of love. He said sometimes competing beliefs in creation and evolution could co-exist.

“God is not a demigod or a magician, but the Creator who brought everything to life,” the pope said. “Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve.”

Unlike much of evangelical Protestantism in the U.S., Catholic teaching traditionally has not been at odds with evolution. In 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed there was no opposition between evolution and Catholic doctrine. In 1996, St. John Paul II endorsed Pius’ statement.

Some wondered if Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI wanted to change that when he and some acolytes seemed to endorse the theory of intelligent design, the idea that the world is too complex to have evolved according to Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn of Vienna, a close associate of Benedict, penned a widely noticed 2005 op-ed in The New York Times that said “Evolution in the sense of common ancestry might be true, but evolution in the neo-Darwinian sense — an unguided, unplanned process … is not.”

Giovanni Bignami, a professor and president of Italy’s National Institute for Astrophysics, welcomed Francis’ comments, saying he had buried the “pseudo theories” of creationists.

“The pope’s statement is significant,” Bignami told Italian news agency Adnkronos. “We are the direct descendents from the Big Bang that created the universe. Evolution came from creation.”

Giulio Giorello, professor of the philosophy of science at Milan’s University degli Studi, said he believed Francis was “trying to reduce the emotion of dispute or presumed disputes” with science.

Francis made his speech while unveiling a bust in honor of Benedict, his predecessor, at the Vatican.

“Benedict XVI was a great pope: great for the power and penetration of his intellect, great for his significant contribution to theology, great for his love of the church and of human beings, great for his virtue and piety,” he said.

Went to catacism as a yout. Had nightmares that the devil was trying to get me. It wasn't until many years later that I realized the devil was after me.

He certainly seems like an easy guy to like.

I've been saying for a while now that I think in some distant future theology and science will intersect. For instance believing string theory requires a certain amount of faith.

Lipstick on a pig. All these medieval institutional religions based on superstition, fear and ancient writings in books should be delegated to the dustbin of history. The sooner the better.

I too ccd--I had to go since Mom taught---not an avid church goer nowadays--always seemed you were being scolded by the preist and made for a non positive sit stand kneel sit stand kneel

I agree with your thoughts on the Pope--they need to get over the --No marriage. Can also thank him for not turning an eye to the pedophile preists

Keta, I agree with much of what you said. That is why so many people have turned away from organized religions, me included. I find it laughable and arrogant that some tiny church in (town of your choice) will claim only THEY hold the keys to heaven and any other form of belief, spirituality, what-have-you is WRONG.

How convenient, but really, it is a brilliant business model. if you give them money and go to their church, they will grant you access to heaven, a place they cannot prove exists, and if it does, they certainly don't own.

if you DON'T give them money or go to their church, they grant themselves to power to condemn you to hell. Another place they cannot prove exists, and if it does, they certainly don't own it.

It is all based on fear. Many religions rely on people remaining ignorant and actively suppress them exploring and seeking truth.

Sound a little like politics?

Ya, politics and religion go hand in hand to promote the retardation of human progress. What a vile mix.

Listen to black metal,[Bleeeeep!] pussy and raise hell

Would it make everyone happy if suddenly he started to ignore what his religion believes and just changed it to meet what the public wants? Not saying that things like marriage and how science interacts with religion, but actually starting to change core doctrines, such as strict interpetation of the bible in regards to homosexuality and the origins of man.

I think all hypocrisy comes from people trying to justify what they are doing and trying to change the definition of what their religion or bible says. Kind of like someone I know who stated, I love my girlfriend, therefore its ok for me to have sex with her before marriage. God understands and loves me, so its ok for me. Its not like I am sleeping around or something. Its hard for me to explain, but I guess what I am saying is that you either believe it or don't. Trying to say that now you can just change core beliefs doesn't change a religion, it makes it into something else. That something else could be right, but it still isn't the same thing.

And yes, I know that the Catholic Church used to belief the earth was flat and had other false beliefs they changed, but I would argue that such beliefs were inherently false, mistaken beliefs and not fundamental to the bible or the religion. People in charge made them important and in some way were acting much like people to day want them to act. To use common beliefs of the day and change or use the religion to enforce them, regardless of what scriptures may say.

The interpretation of the earth being only a few thousand years old is a Protestant belief. Most Catholics I know and grew up with have no issues believing that the universe is 13 billion years old and that earth is 4 billion years old, both created by a divine power. The pope is solidifying a position I suspect many, if not most, Catholics already sided with. Whether or not there is any infusion of intelligent design theory I don't know since I have forgotten my Catholic past.

On the other hand, gays are another story.