Viva il Papa! A Fresh New Look

To cheers of Viva il Papa!, Pope Francis became our next shepherd in the Catholic Church.  He has already come across as a very different Supreme Pontiff than what we have seen in the past.  A very simple, humble man, he has broken the mold on what the world expects to see when they watch the Pope.  The way he moves about the crowds must be driving his security detail crazy, but the people are loving it.

He seems to be bringing a new invigoration to the Church.  His smile and humility has people looking at him differently and talking about him.  I know that I have an excitement about him and of the Church that has been rekindled since his election.

I have also noticed a very pronounced difference in what I read in the comments section below stories about him or the Church.  In the past, there were always berating, one-sided comments about how badly the Catholic Church has acted, and everything turned to the sex-abuse scandal, regardless of the topic of the story.  Lies, hatred, and venom were the only thing spewed...some of it even by the authors of the stories.  Now, however, I am seeing many more comments that are more positive or at least tempered with a bit more civility.  The best part?  I see more and more Catholics speaking up and saying some very accurate, and very positive things in response to any attacks.  More Catholics, and even non-Catholics, are standing up for the Catholic Church and its teachings.

If all Pope Francis does is bring a new vigor to the Church, he will have done a wondrous thing.  May God Bless his Pontificate and aid him in bringing a rebirth and new growth to God's Kingdom on Earth!!