I was also surprised to not see this here before.

I am glad he got to have such a good Easter day and his people got to see him one last time. He seemed to live what he believed. Such an interesting man.

patriciae

His public persona seemed to suggest he was a man of humility and modesty. One who rejected various privileges of office other popes had enjoyed using.

I believe future popes need to continue what seemed to be his attitude of wanting to find doctrinal understanding and relevance in the ever-changing modern world. I'd hope for his flock that that would be a major part of his remembered legacy.

There is another Pope post here, started this AM.

He had a long, hopefully happy and fulfilling life. God bless his soul.

I am not Catholic, but I admired this pope. He spoke out on controversial issues without alienating people. He will be a hard act to follow but perhaps the next pope will take some ideas from Pope Francis.
I wonder if views of the movie “Conclave” will soar. It was a good movie and now very relevant.

I’m also not a Catholic, I admired Pope Francis but so often felt he stopped just short of saying what I hoped for. It'll be very telling, when the white smoke rises, whether the church wants to continue and honor his legacy, or put the brakes on. Hopefully they won't slam it in reverse.

If the shameful conduct of too many American cardinals and archbishops over the past decades to try to bury and ignore real problems is any indication, he sadly may have been an aberration. I hope not.

I rather think he ran into the reality of the fact that even a Pope cant change the Vatican all by himself. The Catholic Church is so very old and the culture is very old and one person can only do so much. I suspect he did what he could. The church that protected abusive priests isnt going to change easily and that is only one issue. When you think of him as a Vatican outsider you have to be amazed he did so much. That is my take and better educated people can point out where I am wrong but it seems probable.

patriciae

" better educated people can point out where I am wrong but it seems probable. "

I won't presume to be "better educated" or to know more or less than you or anyone else but perhaps a more modest posture might be reasonable for you to take too. Seeing as how you are speculating, I think using the word "probable" is too self-confident. Maybe "possible" would be better.

I'll agree that the Catholic superstructure is old and very conservative. But don't forget the fact that none of the last three popes were Italian. One was the first Jesuit and first from the Western Hemisphere, one was (I think) the first German in a very long time, and the third was the first pope of Slavic origin. Small steps and maybe not steps at all but outcomes that varied noticeably from those made in the past hundreds of years.

Here is a list and summation of possible future popes.

CNN list of candidates

Jorje Mario Bergoglio's father was an Italian immigrant to Argentina and his mother was of Italian extraction as well. I just thought to look up Benedict and his mother's family was itallian. I guess they get around. I always thought it more interesting that he was Jesuit.

Just by accident when I was in college I got to know some nuns. I also had a very good friend who was catholic. Catholics are fairly sparce in the south except in Louisiana. I knew the priest at my University and a poor example of one he was. I cant say I am totally ignorant of Catholic practices. Learning the role of nuns was an education. They were leaving their orders in droves in those days and modernizing their garb. Interesting times.

I wished this pope had increased the role of women and done away with celibacy. I ought as a person who doesn't believe support anything that would make people think twice about putting themselves in thrall to a religious belief but I dont think that at all. People should choose what works for them and gives them comfort. This pope knew and supported people who were not Catholic and that was commendable.

patriciae

People I know who self-identify as being Catholic do so mostly nominally. Church attendance and participation isn't rampant among this group. To the extent they follow their religion's dogma, they do so selectively. Choosing to follow strictures and guidance that are consistent with their own thoughtfully chosen life views and guiltlessly ignoring the others they disagree with. This in contrast to other denominations whose followers too often seem to have an all or nothing approach to their sect's views, most picking "all".

There are the all or nothing, we choose all, members of the Catholic church. For them, in their daily lives, and in their interactions with their local parish and priest, the changes and range of views of this Pope or the next or the next, will have little affect on their relationship with and practice of their religion.

Elmer do those of us that are Roman Catholics in good standing, restrict your pontificating to things you know something about.

What does "in good standing" mean?

I was sharing my own experiences and observations. As you should too.

Arcy, I would love to hear your take on this Pope. Perhaps that is too personal for you and I respect that. Discussing beliefs is hard for me as I find religions fascinating but am not blind to the fact that these are precious beliefs for people. I can only address some of the practical aspects of Catholicism. As in did you find him a helpful church leader?

patriciae

Arcy, did you ding my comment?

I too would like to hear from a Catholic. I'm protestant, so I have no dog in this fight. But I also respect that it might be too personal to discuss. It doesn't just have to be Arcy.

Oh dear, Arcy I do apologize as I see now I left my comment in another thread. My mistake.

I was born and raised as a strict Catholic all the way through parochial school into my teen years. That's about where it ended for me. Francis was a Good Pope, probably the best one of the long lot. I see today that many Catholics and Cardinals would now prefer a more conservative Pope. It seems that Pope Francis was just too Christ-like for them.

My parents were Catholic and I went to a Catholic grade school. It was not a good experience. I hated it with ever fiber of my being, and finally convinced my parents to let me go to our community's really decent public school instead. I also left the church as soon and as fast as my own free will could carry me.

My story would be a story for another day. There are many more like it though so in the end my story only really matters to me. That church can rot as far as I'm concerned.

If you are Catholic and have had a great experience and it all resonates with you - I'm happy for you. Truly. I have no quibble with any practitioner of any particular religion or faith, as long as you respect my rights to have my own beliefs too of course. But that church has a very deep, very dark problem and seeing what they allowed happen to little children, and then covered up....yeah. They can rot. I have much stronger words and thoughts, but again, this is not the time or place.

There was no Pope humble like him. Pope Francis had tried his best to save the Church from the devils that have infiltrated it for so long, with the intent to make it a rotten place.

I was really encouraged that somebody like him was at the helm. It's going to be interesting to see who they pick next. I'm kind of worried, but I shouldn't be, because it's not my place.

I could use a little hope right now.

"My parents were Catholic and I went to a Catholic grade school. It was not a good experience."

I agree with you Ally De. I'm a survivor of Catholic schooling in the early 60's and would compare it to a cross of the movie "Heaven help us" staffed by a dozen clones of Agatha Trunchbull's, the mean teacher in the movie Matilda.

I was set free from the daily terror after 3 1/2 years when a Nun put a dozen stitches in my older brother's head through deliberate abuse and we were all transferred to a public school. It was so alien to me, where teachers were nice who didn't whip you, and wasn't told every hour I will go to hell. I could care less if the pope died, in fact one a day wouldn't bother me a bit, but I'm sure some will say I'm going to hell as if I never heard that before, like 10 times a day for years.

The Catholic church is the biggest business and landowner in the world. It has enough wealth to wipe out poverty across the world. It has the power to punish its local priests and cardinals and others who have abused children. But it won't. Why?

I do not support the catholic church in any shape or form. Any pope is just a figurehead who makes his own agenda.

He is no more or less than any other human being on the planet.

I offer condolences to Pope Francis' friends and family.