From the moment the newly elected pope faced the crowds in St. Peter's Square and his chosen name was announced -- Francis -- the spirit of possibility began to blow through the Roman Catholic Church. Let’s learn more about him and the reasons why he is so popular, loved, and important. He is the son of Italian immigrants. Visit the state elections site. The wealth is in the beliefs and practices. Polling hours on Election Day: Varies by state/locality. “The end justifies the means” gradually fits in as the hard work pays. Papal pronouncements hold serious weight and the pope has great influence on how Catholics understand what is holy -- for instance he plays the central role in the process of declaring saints and shrines. Three Important Lenten Season Choices; Why Catholics Venerate Mary the Mother of Jesus; Why the Pope is Powerful; Why We Refer to God as a Jealous God; Life in the Spirit The Spirit is the controller of human life. Within the Vatican, Francis has been active in trying to reform and  "clean up" the Curia as well as the Vatican Bank, which helps fund the work of the church. Table of Contents1 What is God’s opinion of the second wife? The Pope represents the Lord on earth. Nevertheless, Jorge Mario Bergoglio became a pope of the Roman Catholic Church at the age of 76. The rest have been taking over for reasons we all understand. Living in the Spirit is the best gift you can ever give to yourself. As the leader of the Vatican, when the pope visits a country, it's not just as a religious leader, it is as a head of state. Jesus was the human representation of God when He lived on earth. Francis’s predecessor arrived on Twitter with the regrettable handle @Pope2YouVatican, which Jon Stewart mocked on his show. People had mixed reactions. Contrast this with other religions that are mostly fragmented among many different sects, and leaders among them. Catholic Family Ethics houses rules and regulations that need to govern the family with a focus on eternal life. The influence of the Catholic Church is augmented by the status of the Vatican as an independent city-state that maintains diplomatic relations with countries around the world. Raising righteous children is the best that would ever happen to any Catholic. Last but not least, he approved a change to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and spoke out against the death penalty as he considers that it violated the Gospel. And even among those that do have existing hierarchies, such as the Anglican Communion, the numbers do not compare to the estimated 1.2 billion Roman Catholics. After his visit, I heard this comment quite often. The body is only a vessel to house the spirit. Then, in 1958, he entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus. Learning never ends. Hence, in September 2013, he called for people to join him in praying for peace in Syria. ©2020 Verizon Media. In connection with the Holy Spirit, the body gets to move and engage in activities. Sometimes circumstances make it hard or impossible for you to vote on Election Day. Jesus was amazed when Peter confidently reiterated that Jesus was the Messiah; the son of the Living God. The pope makes for good headlines but his priorities reverberate within world politics and within societies around the world. However, when the role is held by such captivating figure as Pope Francis, the pope matters a lot. This frequently involves taking positions on controversial debates in countries around the world and within broader world events.