White smoke at The Vatican
- Thread starter ukalum1988
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White smoke at the Vatican? I guess that means Snoop Dogg will be the next Pope.
Leo XIV, formerly known as Robert Cardinal Prevost. An American who has lived most of his ordained life in Peru.
I once saw Whitesnake at the Palladium.
I am not catholic, nor am I really religious. But I have been pretty fascinated the last couple weeks over the conclave and selection of new Pope. I visited the Vatican while in Italy in 2023 and the history is just so fascinating.
Once upon a time I couldn’t have cared less. (Not catholic obviously). But seeing some of what the last pope endorsed has made me care a lot more. I hope this guy is a traditionalist.
So at most the second best American Pope?
How had this not been the first thing I thought of? Slacking.
I thought the last dude seemed reasonable with a message of kindness and empathy. Granted, religion isn’t my thing and I didn’t keep much tabs on the last pope other than hearing a few things in passing.
As a non-religious person who was raised Catholic, I found it kind of refreshing in comparison to other messages emanating from American Christianity today. Was the last guy too nice to the gays or something?
Yeah I’ve seen some of his thoughts.
I would not have thought that one could conclude that Jesus called for illegal and mass migration and all the evils they entail. But evidently, some people do.
Perhaps the new Pope will house several thousand fighting age migrant men inside the Vatican. It would at least be refreshing.
This is great for the Catholic Church in America. Im not a religious guy but from a 100% Catholic family and it's honestly cool as hell an American is Pope. Hope it leads to stronger Catholic communities in the US.
Also, nothing Francis stood for was "left". It's not about politics but interpretation of Bible and church doctrine. That doesn't and shouldn't change based on political agenda.
Also, nothing Francis stood for was "left". It's not about politics but interpretation of Bible and church doctrine. That doesn't and shouldn't change based on political agenda.
Job number one for this dude had better be to keep the priests from raping altar boys.
I honestly think you need to reevaluate some things. Yes, Jesus would have been for treating people looking for better lives with compassion. There's nothing evil about an illegal immigrant and quite frankly that's an absurd assertion. Criminals are different story.
I will never not be shocked that people who claim to follow the teachings of Jesus get upset when the head of the Catholic Church supports empathy and compassion.
Why do so many of you guys seem to be catholic but also “non-religious”? What are your thoughts on that?
Looking for a better life does not give one the right to break the laws. If there’s something scriptural that says that it does, please show me.
If you really think Jesus would think immigration laws written by man are more important than helping people living in horrible conditions than I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn. The vast majority of immigration violations are civil offenses, they aren't even criminal ones. There is zero world where Jesus holds a civil immigration offense to a higher priority than giving someone a dignified life.
I'm not getting further into politics here. But I really think a lot of Catholics, and religious people of all types, would be well served to revisit some of the basic teachings around empathy, helping your neighbor, and compassion. The State was not the good guy in the Bible.
This hasn't mattered to my family since Henry VIII
Yeah, I'm a nonbeliever, but found the movie Conclave interesting, as well as some great acting.
He’s not a traditionalist. Not the worst option by any stretch, but not the orthodox conservative I was hoping for either.
That said, Viva El Papa!
I am basically an Atheist. However, I'm also Catholic culturally and out of respect for parents, relatives, in-laws, etc. I am by all means Catholic externally. That part is about respect, but also, my kids will go to Catholic schools. I do share values with Catholicism, particularly when it comes to community. I belong to a Catholic parish. My closest friends -- all Catholic. When I die, I will have a Catholic mass. When I was married, I had a Catholic wedding.
Maybe one day, I have some religious re-awakening and believe in the whole God thing. I doubt it. But it's not really about me ultimately. I do think there is value in being involved with a parish & community, kids going to Catholic schools, and having that structure.
I keep you and other lapsed Catholics in prayer. Hopefully you will have that re-awakening in faith.
Nothing does a better job of creating atheists than religions.
I did the whole Catholic deal until I was 18 - confession, communion, confirmation
Began questioning it all at 12-13, my questions were all answered with “ because faith.” I didn’t want to be confirmed, but was forced by my parents. I vowed internally that I was done the day I moved out of their house and stuck to it.
In college, I met the woman who is now my wife. She was raised extremely staunch southern Baptist and invited me along once. This old dude cut these loud wrestling promos about hell, said “brother” a lot, and jumped around and acted an absolute fool for what seemed like 6 hours. I think it’s supposed to be scary. I thought it was hilarious. I wanted to stand up and gove a big ole Ric Flair “WOOOOOO” but thought better of it.
Twenty-five years later, I am merely a fence-riding agnostic and my wife is a militant atheist. The religions we were forced into as children made us the way we are as adults, and I am sure we’re not the only ones.
Like a poster above mentioned, I can still he a social Catholic. I can still go through the motions and still remember how the Mass goes. I just no longer take communion. It pretty much comes down to I’d rather appease my elderly mother for an hour than to ruin Christmas for the whole family. I can still attend religious funerals and weddings. I just kind of zone out but am never hostile or disruptive.
I'm a Protestant, but when you get your faith challenged later in life, and you dig deeper, your faith becomes stronger. When you look at the complexity and creativeness in all things living, there has to be a Creator imo. All this stuff could not have occurred on its own. The system of conception and childbirth alone is enough for me.
Im just here for the parish picnics, sports and beer drinking. Don't mind me.
As a former Catholic with devout Catholic parents who married a now former Baptist, me electing to not have a Catholic wedding was this ridiculously huge deal to my parents and was a point of contention for years afterwards. I think they got over it when we’d been married 7 years or so.
They also tried very hard to push me to convert my wife (even prior to our wedding), which I found to be a little too culty for my liking.
A medical issue and subsequent surgery in her 20s rendered my wife unable to have children, and to this day I feel guilty for almost feeling relieved that I won’t have that cult-like familial pressure from my parents to raise my kids Catholic.
To your last point, I am similar. Maybe one day as my inevitable mortality draws closer, I will have some sort of spiritual reawakening. It seems unlikely at this point, but who knows what the future holds.
Just once I’d like the Pope to start a proclamation with ‘gday mate’ 
Yea, Im dealing with something similar with my son's baptism. I honestly just do not care, but Im pretty sure I have relatives who think my son is going to hell if he dies before we do it. We will eventually cave in the next few months.
I did actually really enjoy being part of a Catholic parish and going to Catholic school. Some of the best times of my life. Away from the religious aspect, I want my son to experience that like I did. And if I was gambling, in 40 years, he'd make a post like I just made. I'm good with that.
Definitely an interesting take. Thank you.
My daughter has first communion this weekend. I wasn’t raised catholic (was raised Greek Orthodox). They seem pretty similar, but my kids love the catholic school they attend and we’ve made a ton of extremely good friends. Those Catholics know a good time and can drink some alcohol 
. I really have no clue what’s going on half the time with all the catholic ceremonies but overall seems like a nice church and group.
. I really have no clue what’s going on half the time with all the catholic ceremonies but overall seems like a nice church and group.
My daughter has first communion this weekend. I wasn’t raised catholic (was raised Greek Orthodox). They seem pretty similar, but my kids love the catholic school they attend and we’ve made a ton of extremely good friends. Those Catholics know a good time and can drink some alcohol
My wife is a Catholic and our daughters go to an all girls Catholic School but I still don’t know what’s going on after 27 years of marriage!