New pope creates a buzz around the globe

EVALENA LABAYEN, Staff Writer

Pope Francis, originally named Jorge Mario Bergolio, is a Pope of many firsts. He is the first Pope from the Americas, the first to publicly accept gay marriage, the first pope to give mass in Spanish, the first to take the place of a resigned pope, and the first to pick the name Francis. Ai??He dropped a new Christian Rock album on November 27 called Wake Up! Ai??Pope Francis is admired by many for his ai???unifyingai??? views that can connect to anyone through his universal message of love and acceptance.

Recently, Pope Francis received an overwhelmingly positive greeting when he visited America; however, his approval ratings have dipped since last year. Ai??Most of opposition comes from people who disagree with his progressive views and prefer Catholicism Ai??to remain the way it has been for the last millennium. Ai??In his speech to Congress, he made similar comparisons between Islam and Catholicism and denounced the idea that Islam related to violence. He even quoted a Muslim poet, and the rest of his speech focused on fighting climate change.

Republican Arizona Representative Paul Gosar said, ai???If the Pope stuck to standard Christian theology, I would be the first in line. If the Pope spoke out with moral authority against violent Islam, I would be there cheering him on. If the Pope urged the Western nations to rescue persecuted Christians in the Middle East, I would back him wholeheartedly. But when the Pope chooses to act and talk like a leftist politician, then he can expect to be treated like one.ai??? Congressman Gosar boycotted Francisai??i?? speech.

“I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting, and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security,” he stated. “I do not want a Church concerned with being at the center and then ends by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures.”

So what does Stroudsburg High school think of this controversial Pope?

ai???Personally I think it’s very positive, “said senior John Fabian. “It creates a more open and accepting atmosphere that I think a lot of people find are missing in organized religion. Plus the Popeai??i??s message is a lot more similar to the actual message Jesus preached than from what other previous popes have preached.ai???

“He is bringing people together aside from their differences,” said junior Delaney Pinson. “It is a changing world, which means the Pope needs to have an open mind. . .nobody is perfect, but we all strive to be better and he is helping us do so by uniting people of all kinds. He is doing more than is asked of him and does it remarkably well.”