Changes

In religion: Holy Father

In religion: Holy Father

|}

|}

His Holiness '''Pope Francis''' (formerly '''Jorge Mario Bergoglio''', born December 17, 1936, in [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]]) became the [[Pope]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] on March 13, 2013. Pope Francis, elected as 266th Roman Catholic pontiff, is the first Jesuit  and the first Latin American pope; First non-European pope in 1300 years. He succeeded Pope [[Benedict XVI]], to whom he was reportedly the runner-up in the papal election of 2005. <ref name="popesuccession">[http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/13/us-pope-succession-bergoglio-idUSBRE92C15X20130313 Reuters: Pope Succession]</ref> Archbishop Bergoglio was created a cardinal by the late [[Pope John Paul II]].  

His Holiness '''Pope Francis''' (formerly '''Jorge Mario Bergoglio''', born December 17, 1936, in [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]]) became the [[Pope]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] on March 13, 2013. Pope Francis, elected as 266th Roman Catholic pontiff, is the first Jesuit  and the first Latin American pope; First non-European pope in 1300 years. He succeeded Pope [[Benedict XVI]], to whom he was reportedly the runner-up in the papal election of 2005. <ref name="popesuccession">[http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/13/us-pope-succession-bergoglio-idUSBRE92C15X20130313 Reuters: ''Pope Succession'']</ref> Archbishop Bergoglio was created a cardinal by the late [[Pope John Paul II]].  

Pope Francis is also set to sign a treaty that includes a provision that will recognize [[Palestine]] as a state <ref name="recognizepalestine">[http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/14/world/middleeast/vatican-to-recognize-palestinian-state-in-new-treaty.html New York Times: ''Vatican to recognize Palestinian State in new treaty'']</ref>.

 

Pope Francis is also set to sign a treaty that includes a provision that will recognize [[Palestine]] as a state <ref name="recognizepalestine">[http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/14/world/middleeast/vatican-to-recognize-palestinian-state-in-new-treaty.html New York Times: Vatican to recognize Palestinian State in new treaty]</ref>.

==Policies==

==Policies==

Cardinal Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, has been an outspoken critic of [[homosexual]] adoption of children, explaining that it is discriminatory against the children.<ref name="childrensrights">[http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/16363162/who-is-jorge-bergoglio Yahoo News, Australia: Children's rights, Pope Francis]</ref> Pope Francis is also strongly [[pro-life]], and has referred [[abortion]] as the "culture of death."

Cardinal Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, has been an outspoken critic of [[homosexual]] adoption of children, explaining that it is discriminatory against the children.<ref name="childrensrights">[http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/16363162/who-is-jorge-bergoglio Yahoo News, Australia: ''Children's rights, Pope Francis'']</ref> Pope Francis is also strongly [[pro-life]], and has referred [[abortion]] as the "culture of death."

<blockquote>

<blockquote>

Among his teachings and stands, he strongly affirms church teaching on the intrinsic immorality of homosexual practices, though he teaches the importance of respecting homosexual persons. He strongly opposed legislation introduced in 2010 by the Argentine Government to give legal equivalency between true marriage and homosexual partners. <ref name="newsconsortium">[http://www.catholic.org/hf/faith/story.php?id=50111 Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM).]</ref>

Among his teachings and stands, he strongly affirms church teaching on the intrinsic immorality of homosexual practices, though he teaches the importance of respecting homosexual persons. He strongly opposed legislation introduced in 2010 by the Argentine Government to give legal equivalency between true marriage and homosexual partners. <ref name="newsconsortium">[http://www.catholic.org/hf/faith/story.php?id=50111 Catholic Online: ''NEW POPE: Who is this man named Bergoglio?'']</ref>

</blockquote>

</blockquote>

==Naming conventions==

==Naming conventions==

Vatican tradition holds that when a new Pope is elected and takes a name that has not been used by a prior pope, they will be referred to simply as "Pope ______", rather than "Pope ______ I" until another pope has taken the same name. In this case "Pope Francis". <ref name="popename">[http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-vatican-pope-francis-name-20130313,0,1309501.story Los Angeles Times: Pope Naming]</ref>

Vatican tradition holds that when a new Pope is elected and takes a name that has not been used by a prior pope, they will be referred to simply as "Pope ______", rather than "Pope ______ I" until another pope has taken the same name. In this case "Pope Francis". <ref name="popename">[http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-vatican-pope-francis-name-20130313,0,1309501.story Los Angeles Times: ''Pope Naming'']</ref><ref name="popename2">[http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/13/world/pope-name/index.html?hpt=hp_t1 CNN: ''Pope Francis' name choice 'precedent shattering''']</ref>

<center>

<center>

Pope Francis recently declared [[evolution]] and [[Big Bang theory]] to be right and that God isn't "a magician with a magic wand".

Pope Francis recently declared [[evolution]] and [[Big Bang theory]] to be right and that God isn't "a magician with a magic wand".

Speaking at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Pope made comments which experts said put an end to the “pseudo theories” of [[creationism]] and [[intelligent design]] that some argue were encouraged by his predecessor, Benedict XVI.<ref name="magicwand">[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-declares-evolution-and-big-bang-theory-are-right-and-god-isnt-a-magician-with-a-magic-wand-9822514.html Independent: Evolution and Big Band Theory are right, and God isn't a magician with a magic wand]</ref>

Speaking at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Pope made comments which experts said put an end to the “pseudo theories” of [[creationism]] and [[intelligent design]] that some argue were encouraged by his predecessor, Benedict XVI.<ref name="magicwand">[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-declares-evolution-and-big-bang-theory-are-right-and-god-isnt-a-magician-with-a-magic-wand-9822514.html Independent: ''Evolution and Big Bang Theory are right, and God isn't a magician with a magic wand'']</ref>

== Political Views ==

== Political Views ==

=== Conscientious objection to same-sex marriage ===

=== Conscientious objection to same-sex marriage ===

Pope Francis has stated, in regard to the political case of Kim Davis, that a person should have the [[Human rights|right]] to refuse to carry out a duty, if it violates the person's [[Conscientious objector|conscience]].<ref name="kimdavis">[http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/pope-francis-visits-america/pope-francis-i-understand-anger-catholic-church-sex-abuse-victims-n434681 NBC News: Conscientious objection is a human right, Pope Francis]</ref><ref name="kimdavis2">[http://time.com/4051727/pope-francis-papal-plane/ Time: What Pope Francis thought of the United States]</ref>

Pope Francis has stated, in regard to the political case of Kim Davis, that a person should have the [[Human rights|right]] to refuse to carry out a duty, if it violates the person's [[Conscientious objector|conscience]].<ref name="kimdavis">[http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/pope-francis-visits-america/pope-francis-i-understand-anger-catholic-church-sex-abuse-victims-n434681 NBC News: ''Conscientious objection is a human right, Pope Francis'']</ref><ref name="kimdavis2">[http://time.com/4051727/pope-francis-papal-plane/ Time: ''What Pope Francis thought of the United States'']</ref>

 

 

Pope Francis has spoken out against violence of minorities in the Middle-East,<ref name="persecutingminorities">[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/10/pope-francis-iraq-isis-islamic-state-religious-minorities-violence The Guardian: ''Isis violence against minorities in Iraq must be stopped, Pope Francis'']</ref> including that of Christians, and, contrary to the typical Catholic views, has endorsed the use of force, if necessary, to accomplish this goal.<ref name="persecutionforceifnecessary">[http://www.businessinsider.com/pope-francis-endorses-use-of-force-against-isis-in-iraq-2014-8?IR=T Business Insider: ''Pope Francis Endorses Use Of Force Against ISIS In Iraq'']</ref>

==See also==

==See also==

*[http://www.catholic.org/hf/faith/story.php?id=50111 NEW POPE: Who is this man named Bergoglio?]

* [[Jesus Christ]]

*[http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/13/world/pope-name/index.html?hpt=hp_t1 Pope Francis' name choice 'precedent shattering'.]

* [[Catholicism]]

*[http://frontpagemag.com/2013/robert-spencer/will-pope-francis-challenge-muslim-persecution-of-christians/ Will Pope Francis Challenge Muslim Persecution of Christians?]

* [[Vatican]]

== References ==

== References ==