Why Elect An Old Man As Pope?

[vernonk]

Last Pope quit cos he could no longer manage and now they've elected a 76 year old. Doesn't seem a smart idea to me.

[Old_Geezer]

Because they get to hold another party in a few years time.

[FredPuli43]

Well, he is an Argentine. It was either him or an outsider, Lionel Messi.

[vernonk]

Lionel Messi is more important than any Pope - he is God

[society]

"Why Elect An Old Man As Pope?"

Perhaps because he's experienced and knowledgeable?

[boxtops]

You don't get young Cardinals, do you?

[237SJ]

Wisdom comes with age. I wish him well. I love Argentina (I go there a lot with work). Let`s hope that the election of an Argentine Pope might distract from the Malvinas issue.

[Hopkirk]

A few years ago they elected one who survived less han a year.

[LazyGun]

So will the Argentinians now think they have god on their side with respect to the Falkland Islands?

[tonyav]

I thought he is Brazilian.

[society]

Always better to have God on your side than the devil.

[237SJ]

LazyGun - I doubt it. In fact I wouldn`t be surprised if the election of an Argentine Pope will take the heat off the Malvinas situation for a while. The Argentinians have something to be happy about for a while and when countries are on the "up", they don`t tend to persue territorial issues. Argentina`s economy has been pretty dire of late so this will give them a boost. (Shame I`m not there with work at the moment - that would have been a good party and if there is something that Argentinians are good at, it is a party)

[murraymints]

He seems very young for his years....and very nice...let's hope he is around for a while to come and brings some stability to the church...

[ichkeria]

Great news and best wishes to all Catholics reading.
Amazing there's never been a Francis before...

[society]

According to the newscaster on the TV, he sounds like a very nice, humble and educated man. A man who mixed with everyone.

[murraymints]

He apparently takes the bus etc to go about his business at home....can't do that now obviously....

[LazyGun]

Interesting choice.
Outside of Europe, a South American.

A man of simple tastes - news suggests that as buenos aires cardinal he lived in a one room flat, cooked for himself, and took the bus to work.

But someone who described gay marriage as the "machinations of the devil" or words to that effect, and that children being adopted to gay parents would be akin to child abuse - a criticism the catholic church should be very careful in throwing around.
Argentinas PM seemed to have little time for him, describing the cardinals tone as "reminiscent of medieval times and the inquisition".

So not someone likely to embark on a liberalisation of doctrine ;)

[ichkeria]

He sounds a bit like a backbench Tory MP then :-)

[LazyGun]

@ichkeria - indeed ; except for the simple tastes, living-in-one-room ,taking -the -bus- to- work thing :)

[DJHawkes]

it probably is the choice of similar thinking cardinals, which means no progress and continued wealth for the church

[society]

Sounds like he's frugal enough...