04-20-2005, 08:54 AM
Hmm. Since I'm a protestant, I'm not obligated to agree with or even care about anything the new pope says or does. :whistling: Of course, the influence of the Pope affects us all quite a bit. If I were Catholic, I'd probably be pretty happy with the choice though. I'd rather have a religious leader who takes a firm stand on the tenants of his faith than one who runs the church as if it were a popularity contest.
The last pope appeared to me to be very conservative and firm with regards to most internal church issues, so I don't see this as being a significant change for practicing Catholics. Rather, it is a setback for Catholics who *wanted* significant changes, of which there are plenty. With regards to geopolitics, it may be a bigger change (although I don't know enough about the Pope to really say).
Apparently this is the first Pope who was ever an American POW. What an interesting distinction that is.
The last pope appeared to me to be very conservative and firm with regards to most internal church issues, so I don't see this as being a significant change for practicing Catholics. Rather, it is a setback for Catholics who *wanted* significant changes, of which there are plenty. With regards to geopolitics, it may be a bigger change (although I don't know enough about the Pope to really say).
Apparently this is the first Pope who was ever an American POW. What an interesting distinction that is.