Free Republic

A feature article in the Wall Street Journal points out what has been increasingly obvious for two years: That Pope Francis is not just the leader of the Catholic Church, but also the “improbable standard-bearer for many progressives around the world.” From the paper: With conservative and nationalist forces on the rise in many places and with figures such as U.S. President Barack Obama and French President François Hollande on their way out, many on the left—from socialists in Latin America to environmentalists in Europe—are looking to the 80-year-old pontiff for leadership. “Pope Francis really inspires a lot of people...