Will Pope Francis change the Church for the better? The acid test:

[Kelvin Mace]

Does he release the 300+ page "secret" report detailing corruption, blackmail, and the existence of a "Velvet Mafia" at the Vatican?

If he does, and releases it with little or no redaction, then this signals that Francis is serious about cleaning up the Church.

If he doesn't, or issues a heavily redacted version, then he is signaling business as usual in Rome.

[Bake]

1. My money is on "business as usual."

Nothing will change.

Bake

[ananda]

3. Old guard.

More of the same: anti-gay, anti-woman, anti peace activism, anti =-intellectual liberal clerics and nuns.

[Kelvin Mace]

7. But, to his credit,

he does seem to care about the poor, and he is not into the glamor of the Church.

I always give people their due.

All of your other criticisms are true enough. But, if he at least cleans house and genuinely moves toward transparency/accountability, then that is a tiny bit of progress.

[southernyankeebelle]

2. It would be nice if he makes positive changes yet if he goes to far who knows he might

die of an unknown illness he got all of a sudden. Remember John Paul the first who wanted to make changes for the better but somehow he died.

[Kelvin Mace]

8. Yes, I have read the theories

Certainly a curious circumstance. That is why publishing the report and coming clean is important.

[southernyankeebelle]

11. Yes, it will go far and I am sure if that happens many will come back to the church.

We must see true change for the better.

[n2doc]

4. No way it gets released

He doesn't want a shitstorm. He will probably, if serious about reform, handle it internally. Watch for a lot of 'retirements' if he does. The Church is far too secretive to open itself up in this way.

[Kelvin Mace]

9. And I am inclined to agree

I simply point out that releasing the report would be a very positive step forward.

[Rider3]

5. The last thing the Church wants to do is change

Believe me, they chose someone who will walk their line.

[Kelvin Mace]

6. Again, that report is they key indicator

Once you make the guy Pope, kind of hard to rein him in if he decides to clean up.

[Whisp]

10. A Rogue Pope would be awesome. n/t