[solvegas]

I thought they might pick someone from Africa or Asia because the Catholic church is actually growing there but at least they did not pick a European. This will be the third non italian to be picked in a row which means perhaps we may never see another italian picked. The church is mostly dead in Europe so it made sense to go outside in order to survive on the long run. One thing critics of the church smugly assume is that it will be gone in a short time. The church has changed in the past and shown resilience so it's impossible to predict the future. Argentina was surprising to me since argentinians are not that devoted anymore. All I can say is that we live in a interesting time.

[TheZookie007]

Good try, man.

[TheZookie007]

That explains it...

[TheZookie007]

"7 DIFFERENCES POPE FRANCIS HAS MADE IN ONE APPEARANCE.

1. Changed the golden throne by a wooden chair... Something more appropriate for the disciple of a carpenter.

2. Did not want the gold-embroidered red stole, Heir of the Roman Empire, nor the red chasuble...

3. Uses same old black shoes, not the classic red.

4. Uses a metal cross, not of rubies and diamonds.

5. His papal ring is silver, not gold.

6. Uses the same black pants under the cassock, to remember that he is a another priest.

Have you discovered the 7th?

7. Removed the red carpet... He is not interested in fame and applause..."

[gOOber]

 

[pedonbio]

^--Just a note about the papal throne.

Whoo, Boy!

The papacy has existed longer than our current legal system, or the legal systems in use in Europe. Also longer than the concept of the nation-state. At some point people needed a way to describe the central authority of the Roman Catholic Church in a way that transcended the momentary occupant of the position. Now we would simply incorporate the church, but back then they were more literal, so they named the throne "The Holy See", which is why a papal statement is not "official" unless it is read aloud in Latin by the current Pope while seated upon The Holy See.

The simplest explanation I have ever found is one of CGP Grey's clips:

www.youtube.com/v/OPHRIjI3hXs

[Zealot]

This guy is too good for the Church!He could visit North Korea or Iran and make way better steps towards peace than anyone else who has tried!