How/Why is the Pope anybody special in the world in 2015?

yes, I get it, he's the leader of the christian (catholic) sect which has like a billion followers or so world wide

however. what is his special skill/talent? "jesus powers"?

Well you just named one of them. He is the leader of one of the World's largest religious groups. When he talks, x billion people listen. According to doctrine he's technically the earthly representative of God too and is infallible, so there are your "Jesus powers" whatever that was supposed to mean...

what is his intelligence? how is he better or more informed than the next person?

He has been trained extensively in matters of theology, philosophy history, etc... as most Christian clergy are. Actually he trained as a Jesuit originally, and that order places a particular emphasis on the education of its members as a response to the poor levels of education among priests in the 16th century, when it was founded. So is he a genius? Maybe not, but he's probably rather cleverer and better educated than the average person.

why is him being a leader of a sect anything remarkable? how is he more moral than you or me?

He is the holder of a symbolic office. People pay their respects to the office and therefore the holder of that office. I don't think he himself claims to be any more moral than you or I, he knows he is merely a man.

he sits his fat ass down on a throne of gold and hold a jewel incrested scepter while millions of people in the world starve.

Only on ceremonial occasions. He does not spend all his time sitting on a bejewelled throne. In fact he is notable for his humility and rejection of the usual luxurious trappings of the Papacy. For example, he refuses to live in the opulent papal palace, instead staying in a hostel with visiting clergy.

it's rather rich too that his church demands money of its followers yet pope francis is the kind of person to say that money is evil in the world...

When does the church demand money? Are you talking about collecting for charity or the poor? As for money being the root of all evil - well he may say that but he also is a practical man and realises that he cannot help poor people without money, bar giving them spiritual aid. When he claims money is evil, he is talking about excessive greed and a system of capitalism in which making money has become the only worthy end. It is hardly controversial to claim that there is more to life than getting filthy rich, and that governments and people (especially wealthy individuals) have moral duties to society.

also, he hasn't lifted a finger regarding the outbreak of paedophile catholic priests whom the previous pope actively hid and protected from persecution.

Outbreak - bit of a strong term considering that the number of catholic clergy who have actually been involved in any of this is a tiny proportion of the whole. The media really should shoulder a lot of the blame for the way they've managed to tar every innocent priest with this suspicion.

As for not lifting a finger - that's ridiculous. He was ordained in 2013, and a year later:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontifical_Commission_for_the_Protection_of_Minors

he is completely against gay marriage too. I know he's said "who am I to judge them?" but he is still homophobic enough to deny them the right to marriage if he had a say? who does he think he is? some kind of bully?

Yes, and he has his own theological reasons for this stance. He is certainly not any kind of bully. No, the only bullying here is done by the mass of popular opinion which shouts abuse at anyone who dares to suggest they might not agree with the prevailing moronic and unquestioning groupthink, and would deny marriage to homosexuals.

Being intelligent enough to critically examine his own opinions, he obviously has some difficulty with the issue. Hence the reason why he made the statement you mentioned in which he was willing to welcome gays into the church. As I understood it even though he considered their behaviour wrong, he still thought it integral to the role of a priest to welcome all people, even if he thought their actions wrong.

he's also anti-abortion, if you didn't think he was bad enough.

Again - who's the bully now? The man has a right to be against abortion. If nothing else, the church serves an excellent role in making sure we properly debate and examine important questions like this. No one should approach abortion lightly, and, religious or not, anyone can see there are quite clearly strong arguments on both sides.

also, why does he think he has the right to announce his political opinions as if his position isn't neutral?

He doesn't, but he is a moral man, motivated like all christians by a need to do good and help others. In that sense, he is a refreshing voice in World politics. He has no agenda, is not influenced by business lobbies, etc... He will always speak with integrity and, unlike politicians, does not try to manipulate and deceive.

remember that time where he said "you don't have the freedom to insult a person's religion"? he also commented that if you insulted his mother, he'd punch you.

Yes, and I remember how this comment was taken wildly out of context and completely misinterpreted. He is a man of faith, who seeks to promote peace and understanding. He believes you should do unto others as you would have them do unto you. His full statement reflected exactly those sentiments.

He did say that there is a limit, you cannot make fun of faith, and that if you insulted his mother he'd punch you. He said the first, to illustrate the practical limitations on freedom of speech, and indeed all human rights. The right to freedom of speech is not supposed to be interpreted as the right to stomp all over someone else's feelings/beliefs just because you can. The second point was an illustration of this. He is trying to say that if someone insults something very dear to you (i.e. for most people their mother OR for example, a religious person's God), it is not uncommon for you to react strongly, or even violently, to this.

He was trying to promote understanding and empathy between peoples in the aftermath of a distressingly violent event. He was trying not to alienate Muslims, many of whom were voicing their anger at the cartoons whilst not agreeing with the actions of the terrorists.

What most newspaper headlines seemed to omit was that, crucially, in that same interview he also said: "One cannot kill... in the name of one's own religion... To kill in the name of God is an aberration."

he has proven himself to be a man of the authoritarian persuasion.

Not sure I understand you here. How so?

he's also spoken about the need tackle climate change - that's not necessarily a negative thing to say but he shouldn't have really said it because obviously no leader (apart from those in western europe) is doing anything about it, so it just comes off as him having the nerve to attempt to tell world leaders how to run their countries which is hilarious

Give the man a break, by your reckoning he can't do right for doing wrong. He shouldn't have said it because no one is doing anything about it? What kind of logic is that?

Is it really hilarious? That one of the few people willing to stand up and make a statement about a problem that is only getting worse each day, is ignored probably because there are no politicians with the balls to make an unpopular decision and take a little economic pain to save the environment. Depressing is what it is.

additionally, why does he think he has the right to meet with dictators, too? he's met with putin (kind of a dictator), raul castro (definitely a dictator), etc, just like his predecessors. why should the leader of a supposedly moral organisation meet with shameless tyrants like this?

The "right to meet with dictators"?? Anyone has the right to meet a dictator, and if he is a moral individual than he can surely only hope to have a good effect upon them. In fact a brief look at wikipedia credits the Pope with being a key player in the reconciliation between Cuba and the US.

Come to think of it - there's special power right there. He's a man people trust, so when there are ridiculous situations like the one that has existed between Cuba and America for decades, poisoned by distrust, he can achieve headway.

This pope's actions are fully in keeping with the founding ideals of Christianity and Jesus. He does not look at evil men, sinners and outcasts with disgust. He does not refuse to meet them. No he goes to see people that others are disgusted by, because he seeks to spread understanding, to speak with them and help them change their ways.

I keep hearing people like elton john bill maher, and many "hollywood liberals" sing pope francis's praises, but honestly, who is he? he's nothing but a man with a big hat who waves a stick. what has he done for the world other other than get his ass kissed? how does he get such political authority/followers? why do people bother with him? if you want to follow jesus, why not just read the bible or something?

Trained in philosophy - believes in Catholic theology

Mustn't have a high IQ!

In all seriousness though I don't think he sincerely believes in God. I think he just wants to make a difference to the world in the best possible way he can. Like Obama. I don't think Obama believes in God either.

why don't you think obama believes in god when he has stted against that? what proof is there to work with?

He keeps saying things in interviews that make me feel like his beliefs aren't sincere. Don't have a link on me right here.

Obviously he has to pretend he does just like the pope because in the US you can't fathomably become elected president if you aren't a "christian".

Calm down stop believing this fallacy that the church demands money. You don't have to give contribution if you don't want to wow. All people from all walks of life are Catholic and giving money to the church isn't by force. Also Religion and tradition is not dead and that's why the Pope has huge support. The Pope is meant to be the Catholic community figurehead, he travels the world preaching and spreading the word as the 1st disciples did. As Catholics/ Christians we don't have to leech up everything he says but listen to his powerful messages, to help us along our faith journey. He however is the face of the reformed Catholic Church. During one mass the people who brought up the offering were all once outcasts of the church. A divorcee a homosexual (I think) someone who had an abortion etc. In this current generation even non Catholics see this Pope as a figurehead of love/unity, he was voted the person of the year in a gay magazine a year or 2 years ago. Yes the Pope lives in a lavish house but his life itself isn't of a spoilt millionaire. Maybe because he's the leader so he has to stand out idk....normal priests, nuns, monks however live very simple lives ...hopefully there's no typos..i cba to check lol

I don't really share your viewpoint - just because he's intelligent and is open minded somewhat about the nature of christianity/it's validity being questioned, I don't think that necessarily causes him to become an "atheist"

Calm down stop believing this fallacy that the church demands money. You don't have to give contribution if you don't want to wow. All people from all walks of life are Catholic and giving money to the church isn't by force.

Also Religion and tradition is not dead and that's why the Pope has huge support. The Pope is meant to be the Catholic community figurehead, he travels the world preaching and spreading the word as the 1st disciples did.

As Catholics/ Christians we don't have to leech up everything he says but listen to his powerful messages, to help us along our faith journey.

He however is the face of the reformed Catholic Church. During one mass the people who brought up the offering were all once outcasts of the church. A divorcee a homosexual (I think) someone who had an abortion etc. In this current generation even non Catholics see this Pope as a figurehead of love/unity, he was voted the person of the year in a gay magazine a year or 2 years ago.

Yes the Pope lives in a lavish house but his life itself isn't of a spoilt millionaire. Maybe because he's the leader so he has to stand out idk....normal priests, nuns, monks however live very simple lives ...hopefully there's no typos..i cba to check lol

I think somebody is a Catholic

Lmao wrong I'm a non denominational Christian...I don't want to segregate myself into a denomination. I went to a Catholic secondary school tho so have lots of knowledge lol. I've been to both Catholic and Penticostal churches

I never claimed it was "by force".



1) give me 3 good reasons why tradition is good
2) if he's only a figure head, why is he politically/socially active? being active is not what a "figurehead" does.



why even bother listen to this man? how is he guiding you at all? explain to me how he as a person is relevant to your "journey" of faith. why should you accept *anything*, let alone "not everything", from him? his status? his fame? what is it? how are these things aspects of reason or legitimacy? how can he teach you anything about morality or facts that the bible doesn't already say? (not that the bible has anything to do with morality or facts, in my opinion...)

Haha fair enough I suppose

I'm ex-catholic myself. Went to Catholic churches all my life up until about 16 (3 years ago) and a catholic sixth form college, high school and primary.