Pope Francis has lunch with gay, transgender and HIV inmates

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3005469/Pope-Francis-asks-lunch-gay-transgender-HIV-suffering-prisoners-impromptu-trip-Naples.html

Many people are cynical about the image that the Pope projects through the world's media, and accuse him of being little more than a consummate PR man for the Roman Catholic Church. It's true that he is cleaning up its tarnished reputation. But I think that what we are seeing is something extremely rare - a genuine man of God, a holy man in the true sense of the word.

I think he's trying to live it to the best of his ability and even drawing some political ire for some of his political ideas. It's true though - Roman Catholicism simply won't go over with a lot of people, no matter how well dressed, simply because it is what it is and cannot deny certain stances regarding church and biblical anathemas on certain things.

Yeah, Pope Frank continues to KICK ASS!


You can bet there will NEVER be another Jesuit elected Pope.

I like Pope Francis myself.

I also liked John Paul II.

Perhaps, while John Paul II wasn't able to be as blunt as Pope Francis, it is possible that he enabled a Pope Francis to attain the Pontificate.

He is kind of both though, it is difficult to deny that he is a populist. He also isn't saying anything many a politician has before. The differnce is they have to deliver to their supporters.

Perhaps there is something in being an inspiration, rather than a leader. As people have to change themselves. It is very important to have a consistent message therefore.

He is compassionate, with a backdrop of contrast. Were there isn't such a contrast, such compassion is not as remarkable, there are lot of people like that. There are still plenty of contradictions in this new church compassion.

Yes, that's very perceptive. In their different ways they are both outsiders: John-Paul II because he was the first non-Italian Pope, and initiated a trend that Benedikt XVI followed; Francis because he's the first non-European, perhaps an even greater challenge. Both also grew up under oppressive regimes, giving them an unusually keen sense of justice. But John-Paul II was more of a showman, fond of grand gestures, whereas Francis's popularity rests on his simplicity, his closeness to the people.

0_equals_true - Good point about his contradictions, I think it's one of the things that endears him to people, the fact that he has depth and substance, a flawed and very human quality about him.

It is not true that John Paul II was the first non-Italian Pope.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:P ... ationality

Pope John Paul presented like moderate when actually he was quite conservative and not that radical. Actually the reforms that were associated with his rein had already been instigated before his tenure.

I believe the last non-Italian Pope, before John Paul II, served about the 15th-16th Centuries.

Some of the main modern reforms were instigated by Vatican II, which was called by John XXIII, and continued by Paul VI. Paradoxically, Paul VI was rather conservative; whereas John XXIII was relatively progressive.

John Paul II continued the reforms. He was conservative about abortion and homosexuality, though.

It's fair to say that all Popes are inherently conservative, it's in the nature of the pontifical role. The Cardinals wouldn't elect a liberal who might seek to change the doctrine of the Church. Rare, far-seeing individuals such as Francis may be progressive, but he isn't about to come down in favour of abortion or same-sex marriage; he's simply (and shrewdly) attempting to accommodate the wider views of society while preserving Church teachings. His much-vaunted initiatives over divorcees being able to take communion and priests being allowed to marry may seem daring to an ill-informed media and public, but both have precedents in the equally conservative Orthodox Church, which permits both while being a bastion of apostolic tradition.

Thanks, kraftiekortie and O-equals-true, for pointing out that there was one non-Italian Pope before John-Paul II, albeit a long time ago. Sorry, my mistake! And yes, John-Paul II was conservative about many things. Although much of his popularity stemmed from his role in helping overthrow Communism, he was very much a product of that system, and could be extremely autocratic.

On what basis do you make this assertion?

How do you know his character, when all you can possible know of him is his public life?

We don't know his character, all his public life.

Was the pope the only one wearing a dress?

I think his dresses are very pretty especially with his pointy hats.............oh...how...divine!! !

Even though I'm Catholic myself, I have to say that Pope Francis is certainly a more likeable pope than Pope Benedict.