I think of all the great minds and philosophers the Papacy has produced. Even in our age, Benedict XVI was as clear a thinker about the trends of our modern age as was JPII.
And then I wonder how Francis ever made it to the position. He’s utterly obtuse.
Did the College of Cardinals just want a non-European? This Pope is many things - a Marxist, a radical environmentalist, an SJW. But he doesn't seem to be much of a priest or even a Catholic.
Francis was ELECTED to the papacy by his fellow cardinals.
The red hats ELECTED him.
If you are so curious or pessimistic write a letter to your local Catholic bishop and question him about the validity of that election.
And please, don't start with the nonsense about Benedict being FORCED to retire. He had ALREADY announced BEFORE the election that he DIDN'T WANT THE PAPACY. All he wanted to do, he said again and again, was to retire and write books.
That is what he and his brother still do, write books.
And if you think that cardinals can be FORCED to vote for someone, that shows how little you know of the priesthood.
They also have rules and regulations to follow and have several people around them ALL THE TIME reminding them of who, when, where and what they are to do. Their life isn't their own once they become priests. They HAVE many daily prayers they MUST say. It's not an easy or comfortable life.
There were SO MANY priests that all over the world that they needed leaders and guidance so the position of BISHOP was started
There are so many Catholics in the world...1.2 BILLION according to Google that priests are much needed.
Priests lives become more and more restricted and regulated if they move up the ladder to bishop.
That is all there is:
1. priest and
2. bishop.
3. Archbishops are bishops with MUCH larger dioceses.
4. There got to be TOO MANY archbishops so they founded the position of
5. cardinal. They are still basically PRIESTS.
I don't know if there is a limit on the number of cardinals but THEY needed a leader.
6. That leader became the Pope...which comes from the Latin word "father" [Papa].
The pope is the head bishop.
There ain't no more than priests and bishops.
Priests don't get rich, famous or powerful any more. Those days of yore have long gone. They have SOME status but only by people who respect men of the cloth. And no, they aren't perfect. They are just plain ordinary men, educated beyond belief, but dedicated to God in their adult lives.
Nowadays seminaries TEST the men who want to be priests. Police departments do testing for people who want to be police as well. Neither occupation needs a sicko.
We had a exorcism last week! The bishop knew the EVIL that was around. Most interesting. The non-blm groups, agitators really, tore down statues that they didn't approve of. Unfortunate.
Sorry to be so verbose.