Non-Catholics greet Pope Francis with guarded optimism

[cbayer]

http://www.religionnews.com/2013/03/14/non-catholics-greet-pope-francis-with-guarded-optimism/

Alia E. Dastagir / USA Today | Mar 14, 2013

(RNS) With the words “Habemus papam” — we have a pope — Roman Catholics had a new leader, and the wider world had a new ministry to watch.

The direction the new pope takes his flock is of great importance for committed Catholics, but the papacy is also closely watched by other faiths. The pope wields vast influence as the world’s most powerful moral leader and the public face of Christianity.

Pope Francis of Buenos Aires, formerly Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, emerged from the conclave as the first pope from outside Europe in modern times, the first Jesuit, the first from Latin America, and the first named Francis, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, who dedicated his life to helping the poor.

Leaders of other faiths appeared to embrace the selection cautiously, not unlike some Catholics themselves, offering prayers and congratulations, but also using the opportunity to lay out their own hopes for the new pontiff.

more at link

[hrmjustin]

1. I would agree that I have guarded optimism.

[cbayer]

2. Me, too. Points in his favor - outsider, latin america, Jesuit, history of living

simply, self-deprecating.

When I looked at the choices, I did not see anybody better.

We shall see.

[Goblinmonger]

4. pal of Benedict, parents were Italian, I'll give you that one, most do

Welcome the new Pope, same as the old Pope.

[monmouth3]

3. I used to be a passing friend of the local Rabbi when I walked to work. We became chatting friends

as I walked past his Synagogue we would pass the time of day. When Father O'Malley was called first to Boston then to Rome as Cardinal (from St. Ann here in West Palm) it truly piqued both the Rabbi and my interest. He told me what a great man O'Malley was and would be in contention for the next Pope if Ratzinger didn't live long. I was pretty surprised the attention given to the goings on in Rome, the Rabbi laughed and said they don't bother all that much with our politics, Priests and other heads of churches are their politics.

[cbayer]

5. Well, they certainly showed a lot of interest in our politics this last go round.

I see them as a powerful political force and that's why I am most interested.