AMEN. I have had some knee jerk reactions to Pope Francis but then pray about it and remember that he is the anointed of God and chosen by the Holy Spirit. I totally agree that God is at work here. I’m a life long Catholic but have long felt that Catholic communities can become clicks and reinforce each other in sometimes unhealthy ways. I’m seeing it again in my granddaughter’s generation. I don’t see that in my RCIA classes where I’ve been a team member for three years but once these baby Catholics go out into the larger community I worry that they will not thrive. OK, I don’t worry because if you pray, why worry. But again, thanks for this analysis.
This is a pious superstition. The Pope is chosen by the College of Cardinals.
I agree with you. I think that people forget that, in the last days, our Enemy (satan), will be so clever as to deceive even the elect. I also have come to think that those who criticize, usually engage in that criticism far more than they engage in prayer and in their intimate relationship with Christ, Himself.
I see this division, which we have ALL seen in the Church (and in society in general) and it is growing in a very evil way. It is propelled by both pride and hatred. I believe that Mark Mallet is one of several who have spoken to this with great wisdom, completely in line with the Teaching Magisterium of the Church...and with love. He has a series of three writings on this division and factionalism that is not to be missed.
Part 1: http://www.markmallett.com/blog/the-thin-line-between-mercy-heresy-part-i
Part 2: http://www.markmallett.com/blog/the-thin-line-between-mercy-heresy-part-ii
Part 3: http://www.markmallett.com/blog/the-thin-line-between-mercy-and-heresy-part-iii
We ALL need to go to Confession and ask God to bless us with great faith in HIM. Then we need to pray, first to improve our relationship with Him...and then to ask for His blessings upon the leaders and the People of our Church!
You have a resident priest on FR who says that God and the Holy Spirit have nothing to do with picking a pope...In fact, pope Benedict makes the same claims...