RIP Pope Francis
I'm not a Catholic and aside from the music, artwork, and architecture it inspires, I don't have much use for religion in general. I certainly didn't agree with Francis in every area. But he was the first pope in my lifetime who I didn't view as an enemy. Instead of the incessant bleating over abortion, gay rights, and "society abandoning religion," Francis used his pulpit to speak out against issues like wealth inequality, climate change, and encouraged people to be kinder and more empathetic, not because "God" wanted them to, but because it was the right thing to do.
Because he took these positions, conservatives hated Francis. The latest podcast from conservative loudmouth Michael Savage is "Lenin's Pope." For the younger people reading this, this isn't normal. It's usually liberals complaining about the pope while conservatives extol him as a "voice of morality" and similar crap. So when people ask if the next pope will "continue on the path Francis began" or will be a "traditionalist," that's what they're referring to. Will the next pope be a culture war-obsessed piece of shit, or a decent human being?
Of course, this isn't up to me, it's up to the 135 members of the College of Cardinals, who are the cardinals under age 80 who will choose the next pope at the conclave in a few weeks. If it means anything, Francis appointed two-thirds of the ones who will be voting on his successor, and he typically chose to elevate bishops who shared his views. It takes a two-thirds majority to elect a pope.
Because he took these positions, conservatives hated Francis. The latest podcast from conservative loudmouth Michael Savage is "Lenin's Pope." For the younger people reading this, this isn't normal. It's usually liberals complaining about the pope while conservatives extol him as a "voice of morality" and similar crap. So when people ask if the next pope will "continue on the path Francis began" or will be a "traditionalist," that's what they're referring to. Will the next pope be a culture war-obsessed piece of shit, or a decent human being?
Of course, this isn't up to me, it's up to the 135 members of the College of Cardinals, who are the cardinals under age 80 who will choose the next pope at the conclave in a few weeks. If it means anything, Francis appointed two-thirds of the ones who will be voting on his successor, and he typically chose to elevate bishops who shared his views. It takes a two-thirds majority to elect a pope.
