The new Pope Francis?

He is a publicity stunt to regain some credibility for the church.

Way too little, and way too late.

It is already rotten from the very top down.

Pope Francis.

From week one he's been making a lot of noise and ruffling feathers.

He ditched the golden plated throne, replacing it for a wooden one, a very similar course of action to the golden staff and jeweled frock and vestments, Even the papal ring, sort of a big deal, is NOT gold, but a silver plated piece.

and this was in his first week. A little after that he made the public statement that trumps the catholic church's unshakable position that anyone who isn't catholic burns in hell and stated that atheists, if they do their best to be decent, will go to heaven...

Okay, granted, atheists don't identify with the idea of heaven in any way, but it's nice to recognize what this is: a hand of friendship, a call for all the stupid threats of hell we keep getting flung at us to cease.

Which is nice.

Not very long after that, in front of global media on a trip to Brazil, he stated that he doesn't judge gays at all and that's entirely up to god, not men.

Read into that what you will.

quickly after: let the defrocking begin! in house and international he shamed priests who have abused innocents and then done some house keeping in his own castle: he took one of his senior bishops, widely rumored to be a man who spent church funds on selfish endeavors, defrocked the scumbag and turned his million dollar mansion into a homeless shelter and soup kitchen.

Is he the first ever pope who actually backs up his beliefs and virtues with action? Is he the first in a line of super-popes, here to change the world for the better (and who cares if its in the name of a god)? is he an elaborate PR stunt by the church? Is he an Avatar of a celestial god?

Buggered if I know. all I am aware of is that he is the first likable catholic and the only decent, non megalomaniac evil pope and..... frankly, the guy's a rock-star.

I am an Atheist, and I would Shake the hand of Pope Francis the Sir if given the opportunity.

No idea what those asterisks stand for. Not a Roman Catholic, but the new kid on the block seems to have his feet firmly on the ground and is attempting to get the Catholic Church back onto the true path.

May God be with him.

Is there a reason you've determined that he is not sincere in his efforts at reform? Of course, the selection of any pope is at least partially political....you can't really deny that.

(I'm not saying you're wrong; just curious. I haven't paid much attention to his papacy.)

I didn't know that he'd said atheists can go to heaven. I can see how some would find it patronizing, but I think that's good. For Catholics at least, it takes a huge arrow out of their quiver. They really can't dismiss atheists out of hand anymore by saying "you're going to hell, what would you know?"

If people can't just dismiss my views, that brings them closer to tolerating them, perhaps even respecting them....I'm not going to slam a guy for helping with that.

I think it is so unfair to attack the Pope. What he said was what Jesus said which written in the bible. Such a prominant figure will not speak the untruth. If one will read the bible carefully then one shall know that the Pope is not lying. I think he is great.

He was picked and he picked that name because the girls at Fatima said the last pope would be named Francis.

He'll be dead within 3 years - assassinated by one of his flock. The church is so broken (conflicted) that it cannot be restored in a world that is connected thanks to the Internet. We are too educated now. Most of us have outgrown religion (though most are afraid to admit to it because of fear of Christians/Muslims)

He'd be great if he admitted that the Churches stance on just about everything was completely wrong - would save millions of lives if he did that.

I found what he said about atheists quite patronising.

It was like saying if Christians are good people, they can go to Narnia.

He's defrocked 10 thousand priests for abuse or covering up abuse.

I'd say that's a good start.

Yes, he was a strategic choice, but he was a good choice.