He is

such a down-to-earth person...

Pope Francis encourages breastfeeding in Sistine Chapel

"'If they are hungry, mothers, feed them,' he says during annual baptism ceremony"

If you read down to the bottom you'll see that he's given up the Papal limousine and travels around Rome in a Ford Focus, sometimes sitting beside the driver in the front. Of course, that's just a practical point because a person of his size would have trouble even getting into the back seat of a Focus. The back seats are built for children, and small ones at that! (We own a Ford Focus, so I have first-hand experience.)

I fear for him. Not just a fear of terrorists and criminals because of his policies regarding justice and peace, but fear of hard-line traditional Catholics who will do what they want to get their way (killing doctors of abortion clinics comes to mind). He is making many friends by his decisions and his actions, and that makes me very happy, but I fear he's also making enemies, and that frightens me. I guess I'm not as good at relying on the Lord and trusting Him as the Pope is. Or most other Christians, I guess. But I digress. Bless him and keep him safe, Heavenly Father.

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Good Grief!

Pope Francis Has Not 'Abolished Sin,' Says Vatican, Despite Eugenio Scalfari's Claim

Some people will go to such extremes to promote their own positions.

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I love this...

...but I hope he leaves just one standing to temper the change.

And I pray for his safety...

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I continue

to have great hopes for Pope Francis, though my worries continue as well.

The Christian soldier

"Whatever one’s faith, there is no escaping the fact that Pope Francis is emerging as a world statesman"

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Alas, he has a point.

The Problem with Pope Francis…

It's not a problem with Pope Francis, as he takes pains to point out. The problem lies in those who interpret his words and behaviour. Fr. Dwight is fairly traditional in his Catholic theology (though this is a bit of a generality and not quite fair to the man), and in this case I believe that he's quite correct in thinking that all a lot of folks will focus on is the social gospel in his statements and ignore anything of the rest of the Gospel. His fourth paragraph sets it out quite well...

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Wonderful!

Two Former Popes to Be Made Saints

I was certainly expecting a second miracle to be approved for Pope John Paul II, fulfilling the requirements for canonization, but I am truly happy to see that Pope Francis has skipped that requirement for Pope John XXIII. I've always considered him to be a saint, unofficially, but I'm certainly happy to see that Pope Francis believes so as well. He made such an impact on the Church and the world!

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