this post was submitted on 21 Apr 2025
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[–] MudMan@fedia.io 397 points 1 month ago (42 children)

I am surpringly annoyed about Americans somehow finding a way to make this about themselves.

In reality I'm much more worried about the likely counterreformist pushback that is likely about to happen. We're about to find out if a remarkably powerful organization's leader was able to seed enough support to secure a politically aligned successor, and if the answer is "no" a bunch of organizations are about to get even more ruthlessly conservative at a time when a new strain of fascism is seeking moral support. The Catholic Church has been here before. It didn't go well.

[–] Wildfire0Straggler3@lemm.ee 225 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

"Francis appointed nearly 80% of the cardinal electors who will choose the next pope, increasing the possibility that his successor will continue his progressive policies, despite the strong pushback from traditionalists."

https://www.reuters.com/world/pope-francis-has-died-vatican-says-video-statement-2025-04-21/

[–] Microw@lemm.ee 82 points 1 month ago (2 children)

The catch is that he did not appoint by ideology. His appointments were mainly based on the guys doing work for poor people, for migrants, and on them doing their jobs in the global south.

Quite a few of these he made cardinals are somewhat conservative in their views, especially regarding sexuality

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[–] philpo@feddit.org 105 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (9 children)

Yeah. It's more than annoying, especially as it's the same old Vance joke again and again and again. Which isn't even clever.

I am not a Christian by any means but I worked with them quite often. Francis did change a lot of things and while he wasn't in no way perfect - he did have his drawbacks, for a fucking pope he was much better than anyone before him within the last few hundred years. People (especially on the internet)nowadays expect other people, especially political leaders to "check all their boxes" and if one thing is not going as far as they want, they are alienated.

Often I have the impression that as long as someone is not going "all the way" in the right direction they are seen as bad as someone who does not do anything at all or goes in the wrong direction. (Which is ironic because the church itself has evolved past the "saint or sinner" directive)

Francis has been going in the right direction probably 60% of the way and 10% in the wrong direction. Is the Catholic church there yet? No. Is there a big chance it might turn back? Yes. Would he been elected if he was so reformist it was sure he would topple everything and go 100%? Surely not.

But he did much more than any of his predecessors did.

Any much more most commenters do.

Besides: It's okay to feel sorry for an old man dying. That's called fucking compassion. I work in healthcare and have seen a lot of people die. I feel sorry for almost all of them.

In the end a human has died. Period.

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[–] garfaagel@sh.itjust.works 42 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I don't expect a conservative backlash, on the contrary Francis's Pontificate has weakened the conservative wing considerably. Given that 80% of the voting cardinals were appointed by Pope Francis, I would expect them to elect a successor that continues in the same direction, perhaps even a more radical one.

During his pontificate Francis also made a lot of efforts to bring in new groups into the corridors of power. Not only by his appointment of cardinals, but also e.g. by reforming the Curia with Praedicate evangelium.

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[–] oppy1984@lemm.ee 26 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

As a non-Catholic American, I have the same worry for the global geopolitics. It just so happens that the united states is part of those geopolitics.

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[–] random_character_a@lemmy.world 261 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Yeah, meeting JD Vance can be too much for anyone.

[–] BestBouclettes@jlai.lu 84 points 1 month ago (1 children)

We should spread the news that Vance killed him!

[–] match@pawb.social 43 points 1 month ago

vance liz truss'd the pope

[–] Hawk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 45 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Honestly, it's not even hat far fetched. He probably denied visits because he was in bad health, yet Americans probably pushed to meet anyway

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[–] realitista@lemm.ee 158 points 1 month ago (44 children)

I'm actually sad about this one. He was by far the best pope of my lifetime.

[–] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 109 points 1 month ago (3 children)
[–] realitista@lemm.ee 86 points 1 month ago

True but he exceeded the existing bar by a lot.

[–] elucubra@sopuli.xyz 25 points 1 month ago (9 children)

Yes, but if the next one is a little better, and the next one, and the next one...

The church evolves very slowly.

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[–] Dogiedog64@lemmy.world 136 points 1 month ago (3 children)
[–] bamboo@lemmy.blahaj.zone 70 points 1 month ago (2 children)

JD Vance: "How long have you worked here?"

[–] barneypiccolo@lemm.ee 56 points 1 month ago

"Have you said Thanks, even once?"

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[–] merdaverse@lemmy.world 122 points 1 month ago (5 children)

It's a true shame. Francis was the most "eco-socialist" pope we are going to get. Managing to offend entrenched conservatives deserves respect.

[–] Stovetop@lemmy.world 27 points 1 month ago

As others have said, Francis also stacked the electors who will be deciding the next pope, so it is possible that his successor will also be just as progressive (well, progressive for the leader of a conservative religious institution, at least).

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[–] HawlSera@lemm.ee 118 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I fucking hate you Vance, this is your fault!

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[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 115 points 1 month ago (2 children)

This is huge, pinning it for now.

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[–] harmsy@lemmy.world 110 points 1 month ago (17 children)

Guys. Joe Biden is Catholic. The Vatican has an opportunity to do the funniest thing ever.

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[–] DioEgizio@lemm.ee 107 points 1 month ago (1 children)

JD Vance visits the Vatican, the pope literally dies

I guess he didn't say "thank you"

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[–] SkaveRat@discuss.tchncs.de 73 points 1 month ago (3 children)

let's wait a couple days and see if he comes back

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[–] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 72 points 1 month ago (13 children)

Pope is recovering;

  • meets JD Vance

  • dies a couple days later....

Hmm

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[–] rambling_lunatic@sh.itjust.works 65 points 1 month ago (11 children)

He was an alright Pope in the end. Not a soulless bastard like Benedict.

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[–] lennybird@lemmy.world 65 points 1 month ago (8 children)

The child in me kind of wishes he had passed on 4/20 Easter, but alas.

That being said, while I'm not religious I appreciate a lot (not all) of what this Pope has done. His Apostolic Exhortation on the Idolatry of Money, and the gross inequality wrought by capitalism is worth a read.

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[–] WoodScientist@sh.itjust.works 56 points 1 month ago (14 children)

Looks like it's time for another pope race. I would like to throw my hat in the ring. As a lapsed Catholic trans woman who's never so much as visited a seminary, I know I'm an unorthodox choice. But maybe it's time to mix things up. My central campaign planks? We're going to bring back indulgences and try to make the Papal States a thing again. Also, expect skits and improv sessions to have a big place in Catholic mass in the future!

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[–] Realitaetsverlust@lemmy.zip 55 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

"That was because he refused to welcome god-king JD vance in person!!!! God punished the pope for his impertinence!!!!"

- Some MAGA-Nut somewhere, probably

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[–] SCmSTR@lemmy.blahaj.zone 54 points 1 month ago (10 children)

Gfdi. I'm not religious, but knowing that Catholics are going to choose a new Pope, I can only look forward to more bad news of comformity to godawful world news in the form of a shitty New Pope who inspires and empowers all the shitty people.

Great, one more thing to make the world even worse.

[–] ssfckdt@lemmy.blahaj.zone 32 points 1 month ago (1 children)

There's some hope.... part of Francis' papacy involved him promoting more open-minded cardinals (who are the ones who choose popes) but we'll see

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[–] rickdg@lemmy.world 45 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Yeah, “guess I’ll die” is a normal reaction to meeting JD.

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[–] Bieren@lemmy.world 44 points 1 month ago (20 children)

This is sad. He was indeed a great pope. But, WTF did JD do?

[–] oliver@lemmy.skumring.com 41 points 1 month ago (7 children)

Probably, he finished him...

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[–] pepperonisalami@sh.itjust.works 41 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Pope: dies

Corpo God : "We are happy to announce the relocation of Pope Francis to his next steps within the company. We are thankful for their contribution for the last 12 years and we look forward to their future achievements. BR, management.

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[–] GraniteM@lemmy.world 39 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Boy asks Pope if his atheist father is in heaven.

Humility, patience, kindness, grace, and rationality. Would that we should have more leaders like him in the future.

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[–] merdaverse@lemmy.world 30 points 1 month ago (3 children)
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[–] Thorgrem@lemmy.world 27 points 1 month ago

May he rest in peace.

[–] Freshparsnip@lemm.ee 26 points 1 month ago

Bring him back, take Trump instead

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