The Journey of Pope Francis: How He Became the Pope
Pope Francis is the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church, and through his liberal views and leaning toward mercy and compassion, he has become a source of attention. New reports, however, now claim that the Pope had used derogatory language for the LGBTQ+ community and an outcry for elitist hatred of the Pope. To understand this context in the real sense, it is essential to have a look back at the journey of Pope Francis and how he became the Pope.
The Role of the Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome and the official head of the Catholic Church.
The pope is tasked with leading the Church’s direction, making decisions on religious matters, and representing the Catholic faith to the world.
Throughout history, the papacy has been widely influential in religious and worldly affairs.
The Selection Process
More traditionally, when the Pope died, a new one was chosen. But it all changed in 2013, when the Pope, Benedict XVI, announced his resignation from this post due to poor health.
This is when the College of Cardinals, the highest-ranking officials of the Church, gathers in Rome to begin the selection process.
The Cardinals, under the age limit of 80, participate in the Papal Conclave, in which balloting is taken up secretly on the premises of the Sistine Chapel.
The conclave is where the Cardinals cast their votes until one candidate receives the majority vote and accepts the position.
The announcement of a new Pope is heralded by the appearance of white smoke from the Sistine Chapel.
Pope Francis's Journey
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected as Pope on March 13, 2013, at the age of 76.
Before becoming Pope, he spent 51 years humbly serving the Church, filled with humanity and concern for social issues: poverty and climate change.
Pope Francis was elected based on his moral values and international visibility as a spiritual leader.
His papacy has been marked by continued efforts at reforming the Church and bringing it closer to the Christian call of being more inclusive, as well as grappling with the challenges.
Current Controversy
Recent reports have emerged that the Pope used obscene language in a private meeting. Such reports have stunned the world after a previous series of public statements by the Pope concerning respecting gay people. Although some argued that the utterances by the Pope might have originated from language misunderstandings, others were fearful of the impact it could have on changing the perception of the Church towards the LGBTQ+ community.
End Note
Instead, Pope Francis ascended to the throne through his predecessor’s normal selection process. He was chosen based on morality, international recognition, and his work in response to social issues. In the recent past, however, he has used derogatory language when it comes to the problems that relate to the LGBTQ+ community. It is unclear at this point what effect the controversy will have on Pope Francis’s image and his ongoing church reform process.
