Without a doubt, the biggest news item this week to those truly concerned about the times we live in has been the election of a non-European as Pope of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis, an Argentinean, is known for his display of humble frugality that is said to be fitting for his office. He is also recognized for his strict orthodoxy, which may be a major key in the direction his reign may go forward. It is very well known that Pope Francis is firmly anti-abortion, anti-homosexuality and lesbianism, anti-gay marriage, anti-evolution, and opposed to a number of other practices or beliefs of modern humanism that have swept the Western world. Unlike Pope Benedict, who was referred to as the Pope's Rottweiler for his strict enforcement as a Cardinal, Pope Francis does not have a reputation for aggression but rather one of frugality and humility alongside his outspoken orthodoxy. One of the most significant facts is that he is a Jesuit, the very first Jesuit ever elected to the Papal office in the history of the Catholic Church, despite the Jesuits being the largest order of priests within the Church hierarchy. This historic election raises questions, especially at a time when it seems as though Christ's return is not far off.

In a March 28 interview with La Repubblica editor Eugenio Scalfari, Pope Francis stated that hell does not exist, asserting that condemned souls simply disappear. Responding to a question about the fate of bad souls, Francis explained that those who repent obtain God's forgiveness and contemplate Him, while those who do not repent and cannot be forgiven just disappear, as there is no hell. The Vatican, however, denied the accuracy of this report, stating that the article reflects Scalfari's reconstruction and not the exact words of the Holy Father, suggesting the quotation is not a faithful transcription. Despite this, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, a senior Catholic in England and Wales, defended Francis by noting that Catholic teaching does not specify any individual as being in hell and suggested the Pope was exploring the imagery of hellfire rather than affirming its literal existence. Additionally, Pope Francis, during his tenure, has faced accusations of fostering chronic confusion, demeaning doctrine's importance, appointing controversial bishops, marginalizing objecting prelates, and causing Catholics to lose confidence in their supreme shepherd, raising concerns about a potential backlash from conservative Catholics due to his openness to unorthodox opinions.

Pope Francis, succeeding Benedict XVI, is a 76-year-old native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the son of Italian immigrants. As the first Jesuit to wear the papal mitre, he chose the name Francis in honor of Francis of Assisi, reflecting his deep concern for the welfare of the poor. Known for his mild-mannered and soft-spoken nature, Pope Francis is a man of the people with a sense of humor, earning a reputation for holiness and humility. During his twelve years as head of the Catholic Church in Argentina, he lived simply in a downtown apartment, used public transportation, cooked his own meals, and regularly visited slums to wash the feet of the poor, sick, elderly, or imprisoned every Maundy Thursday. Since his election, Pope Francis has maintained his no-frills style, initially opting for a bus over the papal car, handling his own luggage, and paying his own bills. He has refused the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace, choosing instead to reside in the Vatican guest house, though he has accepted a suite for meetings and visitors. On his first Maundy Thursday as pope, he continued his tradition by washing and kissing the feet of twelve juvenile offenders in Rome. Despite his gentle manner, he possesses a forceful personality, holding firm to his heartfelt positions while often using language in sermons and writings that balances theological dogma with merciful responses to a sinful world. Pope Francis also critiques global capitalism, labeling it a tyranny that values humans by consumption and a cult of money that breeds misery. He believes unbridled capitalism worsens poverty and disregards ethics, advocating for stricter controls over financial markets. With the Catholic Church's 1.2 billion adherents, particularly strong in Latin America, Europe, and Africa, there are indications that Pope Francis may wield the Vatican's political influence more actively, insisting that Catholics live out their faith in the world, potentially leading to significant developments during his papacy.

The Catholic Church, with its vast influence and membership of 1.2 billion people, has historically been a conservative force in global affairs. However, under Pope Francis, this stance appears to be undergoing a dramatic shift. Articles by prominent journalists, such as Ambrose Evans Pritchard of the Daily Telegraph, report that Pope Francis is steering the Church toward what he calls a "church for the poor," embracing liberation theology. This marks a significant departure from the policies of the past 40 to 50 years. Notably, just over 25 years ago, Pope John Paul worked to eliminate liberation theology, an effort led by Cardinal Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict. Pope Benedict, a conservative German, resigned—the first Pope to do so in Catholic history—paving the way for Pope Francis to assume office. It appears that Pope Benedict's resignation may have been forced to allow for a more liberal approach. Pope Francis's recent address, Evangelii Gaudium, serves as a doctrinal statement of this major leftward swing within the Catholic Church, signaling a transformative direction for its future role in the world.

Pope Francis has approved a change in the wording of Jesus' model prayer in Matthew 6:13, traditionally known as The Lord's Prayer. With his authorization, Catholic Bibles, initially in Italian, will now render the verse as, "And do not let us fall into temptation," instead of the previous "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." This alteration, already implemented in French, Spanish, and Portuguese Bibles, follows sixteen years of research by scholars who deemed the current translation mistaken. Pope Francis publicly explained the change, stating, "I am the one who falls; it's not him pushing me into temptation to then see how I have fallen. A father doesn't do that. A father helps you to get up immediately. It's satan who leads us into temptation. That's his department."