donbosco
Inconceivable Member
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Way back when he was new to the job I had heard rumblings of worrisome things from friends who follow Argentine history -- I understand that even for all but the most convinced those accusations (from the time of the Dirty War, i.e., that as a young bishop he had colluded with General Videla's dictatorship) had not only been researched away but effectively reversed (he had actually worked behind the scenes to save lives during that time).
With that "cleared up," turning to his life and works Pope Francis would seem to have been one of the very best and most human Popes -- an Anti-MAGA, anti-fascist, and pro-Diversity, pro-Equity, and pro-Inclusivity Pontiff steeped in Critical Thinking and living a life that exemplified those ways.
That he was from somewhere other than Europe and specifically the often troubled nation of Argentina turned out to be a plus in the eyes of many. He knew oppression and the face of authoritarianism first hand. That he was a Jesuit, that in and of itself worrying to some folks, may actually have made him tougher and a more formidable foe for the Right than many might have been (they've been referred to as "The Pope's Green Beret" in the past for the martial nature of their organization).
The world needs someone of similar quality moving forward into what promise to be many more years of struggle against global forces represented by the likes of Putin, trump, Xi, Bukele, Erdogan, Orban, and the list goes on and on and deeper and deeper, showing flavors and varieties of anti-democratic governments that command across the planet in alarming numbers. Less than half the world population enjoys democratic republican constitutional rule at present by conservative standards and that estimate is slipping to The Right Authoritarian aisle more every day.
Watch the Vatican and the Papal Conclave -- their choice will be important.
With that "cleared up," turning to his life and works Pope Francis would seem to have been one of the very best and most human Popes -- an Anti-MAGA, anti-fascist, and pro-Diversity, pro-Equity, and pro-Inclusivity Pontiff steeped in Critical Thinking and living a life that exemplified those ways.
That he was from somewhere other than Europe and specifically the often troubled nation of Argentina turned out to be a plus in the eyes of many. He knew oppression and the face of authoritarianism first hand. That he was a Jesuit, that in and of itself worrying to some folks, may actually have made him tougher and a more formidable foe for the Right than many might have been (they've been referred to as "The Pope's Green Beret" in the past for the martial nature of their organization).
The world needs someone of similar quality moving forward into what promise to be many more years of struggle against global forces represented by the likes of Putin, trump, Xi, Bukele, Erdogan, Orban, and the list goes on and on and deeper and deeper, showing flavors and varieties of anti-democratic governments that command across the planet in alarming numbers. Less than half the world population enjoys democratic republican constitutional rule at present by conservative standards and that estimate is slipping to The Right Authoritarian aisle more every day.
Watch the Vatican and the Papal Conclave -- their choice will be important.
