Pope Francis has taken the opportunity of his visit to Brazil to reach out to gay believers, saying that they should not be marginalised but integrated into society.
In his actions upon the international stage, the conservatism of Pope Francis will probably overshadow his radicalism. Nevertheless, he has shown his radical side by naming himself after St. Francis of Assisi. He will not just remember the poor, but will also attempt to follow St. Francis in his personal devotion to “Lady Poverty.”
The election of Argentinian Jesuit Jorge Bergoglio as the new Catholic Pope has raised questions about the former cardinal’s alleged involvement with Argentina’s 1976-1983 military dictatorship, including accusations that he had a hand in the kidnapping of two liberal priests.
Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, has been selected as the new Pope after only two days of conclave, where he will take the name Pope Francis I
Black smoke has issued from the Sistine Chapel in Rome, signalling the cardinals have still yet to come to an agreement as to who will become the next Pope to succeed Pope Benedict who resigned last month.