Pope Francis!!!!

March 14, 2013 Subscribe · Forward Vatican Announces New Pope Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires has been elected the 266th pope of the Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Francis. He is the first Latin American pope to lead the church, as well as the first Jesuit priest. Francis, 76, appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday more than an hour after white smoke was released from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 2:05 EDT (7:05 p.m. CET) to signal that a new pope had been selected. Speaking from the balcony, he gave his first address as pope, the traditional Urbi et Orbi (to the "City and the World"), as crowds waved, cried and cheered for the new leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. Continue reading... Latin American Catholics Get Boost From Latino Pope Record Number Of Americans Claim No Religious Affiliation: Report Obama Taps Baptist Lawyer To Lead Faith-Based Office Vatican Announces New Pope Obama Weighs In On Pope Choice PHOTOS: Vatican City Reacts To New Pope Spiritual New Pope Starts First Day With Prayer PINK Smoke Over The Vatican? Vatican Announces New Pope 10 Things Church Can Learn From Geeks Ryan Budget Offers Vision Of Morally Bankrupt America BRIAN D. MCLAREN 'We Are Poor, but We, Too, Are Human Beings' Many of us in the faith community are realizing that it is inappropriate to bow our heads to thank God for our food without also lifting our heads to hear from our neighbors whose labor brought that food to our table. Continue reading... ANI ZONNEVELD Marriage Equality is Islamic and American If God can be the most gracious and compassionate then why can't we human beings do the same? Why are we the judge and prosecutor of God's creation, in this case, our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters? Continue reading... SHAWN AHMED Imagine Catholics and LGBT Rights Complexly Today was probably the first -- and last -- time someone who is both Muslim and gay will be the one to bring Catholic priests news of a new Pope. Continue reading... MOLLY ALEXANDER DARDEN The Church Wears the Emperor's New Clothes The Internet does not allow for secrecy, and it is only the Vatican and other clergy who may still wear the Emperor's New Clothes, believing that the laity cannot see their nakedness. Pope Francis, it seems, will bring some positive change to the Church, but will leave the core problems in place. Continue reading... RABBI SHMULEY BOTEACH Religious Sexual Repression and the Responsibilities of the New Pope As the world's foremost religious figure, no one can do more to address carnal repression in religion than the new pope whom, if he chooses to ignore the sexual crisis facing the Church, will be absconding on the responsibility of leadership. Continue reading... Received this from a friend? Sign up for alerts from The Huffington Post here. Unsubscribe here.