Pope Francis

Well said lily gran! He has lovely kind face I think and poor chap inherited an awful lot stuff to sort best luck to him

Commentators seem to think that he will be able to tackle the Augean stables that the Curia has become. That would be a good first step – but he's still just a man in a frock.

I made a promise [to myself] NOT to say anything more on the subject of the CC. However, I cannot contain my incredulity a moment longer. What a load of old tosh! That's it! I shall leave the believers in peace.
I'm off to tend the poorly pussycat.

It is good that he advocates for the poor - but many of the poor of S America are victims of the contraception ban - large familes with no means to support them.

He needs to start looking at the causes of the widespread poverty rather than just tinkering with trying to alleviate the poverty that has been exacerbated by the policies of his church.

I am happy to give him a chance - it would be good if he grasped the opportunity to prevent poverty.

I think the limited information we have about him so far - and Radio 4 covered it in great detail - addresses most of the points raised above. He apparently lived a very frugal life as Archbishop, living in a bed sit and cooking his own meals. He's a Jesuit ie a member of a religious order not given to conspicuous consumption and often quite radical. He's never been part of the Vatican set up. He has a reputation for embracing pthe causes of the poor. His first words to Rome and the world as Pope were informal and free of pomp. Why not give him a chance?

The thing that worries me is the veneration of the Pope.There is the danger of him becoming like a cult leader.Like most institutions there is much that is good in the Catholic Church but much that I feel is misguided.I don't wish to upset Catholics as in many ways I envy their faith but it is when they are Papists rather than Catholics that the problem arises.Please correct me if you think it is me who is misguided.

Totally agree with Joan - he has a nice smile but is too old to address all the many fundamental issues the Church is facing. Radical reform is needed but sadly he is not the right choice........but who is?

I wonder what Jesus would have made of the Catholic Church today. Would it have been what he intended. I wonder!!!

He's sticking to the same tired old stupid attitudes to contraception. How can you be against abortion, and oppose contraception? Only a 76 year old virgin can be that unrealistic.

He opposes homosexuality too, completely disregarding modern science that tells us that people are born that way, they do not choose it.

He also supports celibacy - maybe it is sour grapes - if he couldn't have a wife, why should any other priest be allowed one?

Why oh why do religious leaders have to be so ignorant of the reality of real life?

He is supposed to be OK on social justice. Only for some, I imagine.

Let's hope he cleans up the Vatican, fixes all the financial crimes, and sorts out the paedophile cover-ups, before he dies or resigns.

Maybe the next one will have some common sense, regarding celibacy and contraception, if nothing else.

My verdict?

Bah humbug!

Worrying that he is a Jesuit.

More of the same, I fear - anti abortion, anti contraception, anti homosexuality....