Jason Horowitz

And I remember that they announced the pope's name in Latin.

And I remember that they announced the pope's name in Latin.

And what was also very important, I think, is the name he took. So he's the first pope ever to take the name Francis, who's a 13th century saint who is known for being extremely humble and vows of poverty. And by taking the name Francis, that was, again, this is a master of gestures, already a strong sign to his fellow cardinals and to the world that his priorities were going to be different.

And what was also very important, I think, is the name he took. So he's the first pope ever to take the name Francis, who's a 13th century saint who is known for being extremely humble and vows of poverty. And by taking the name Francis, that was, again, this is a master of gestures, already a strong sign to his fellow cardinals and to the world that his priorities were going to be different.

One of the things I remember is that as soon as he came out onto the balcony, he was just more colloquial. And, you know, one of the first things he said is like, you know, good evening. Right? And it just—it seemed less sort of like a regal address to the masses below him than someone who people could relate to. Right.

One of the things I remember is that as soon as he came out onto the balcony, he was just more colloquial. And, you know, one of the first things he said is like, you know, good evening. Right? And it just—it seemed less sort of like a regal address to the masses below him than someone who people could relate to. Right.

Yeah. And he's doing all these things that symbolically say, wow, something's totally different here. But you're right. This is an institution. So the question was, you know, was this all style or was there going to be substance here? So right away, he says something which completely shocks the world, which is when he's asked about gay priests. And he says, well, who am I to judge? Right.

Yeah. And he's doing all these things that symbolically say, wow, something's totally different here. But you're right. This is an institution. So the question was, you know, was this all style or was there going to be substance here? So right away, he says something which completely shocks the world, which is when he's asked about gay priests. And he says, well, who am I to judge? Right.

Now, this is the pope.

Now, this is the pope.

Right, right, exactly. This is the Pope. This is the guy, like his job description is judging, right? And he says, but you know, that's not what I'm here for, right? And eyes go wide when he says that and people start saying, well, wait a minute, maybe this is something really different here. So there's tons of these little things and sometimes not so little things, right?

Right, right, exactly. This is the Pope. This is the guy, like his job description is judging, right? And he says, but you know, that's not what I'm here for, right? And eyes go wide when he says that and people start saying, well, wait a minute, maybe this is something really different here. So there's tons of these little things and sometimes not so little things, right?

He starts saying, if you're a married, divorced person in the church, maybe you can receive communion again, right? And now that's been a no-no, right? That's against the doctrine. Everyone is all of a sudden paying attention to Rome where you have this guy who is really turning the church on its head. And people start talking about something called the Francis effect.

He starts saying, if you're a married, divorced person in the church, maybe you can receive communion again, right? And now that's been a no-no, right? That's against the doctrine. Everyone is all of a sudden paying attention to Rome where you have this guy who is really turning the church on its head. And people start talking about something called the Francis effect.

Are all these people gonna start coming back to the church and filling the pews because they love Francis so much? And then the sort of the policy questions start arising, especially from people who have been out in the cold for a long time in the Catholic church, right?

Are all these people gonna start coming back to the church and filling the pews because they love Francis so much? And then the sort of the policy questions start arising, especially from people who have been out in the cold for a long time in the Catholic church, right?

People who want married priests, people who want women to be priests, people who want all sorts of things are saying, wait, maybe this is the guy who's going to finally change things.

People who want married priests, people who want women to be priests, people who want all sorts of things are saying, wait, maybe this is the guy who's going to finally change things.

Exactly. And he feels very much like a man of the moment. Think about it. At that time, you have Barack Obama in the White House. You have Angela Merkel in Germany. You have liberal leaders across Europe. You have this feeling that, you know, there's this migration crisis and it's time to help these people, right? And, you know, we've got to find a solution to this.

Exactly. And he feels very much like a man of the moment. Think about it. At that time, you have Barack Obama in the White House. You have Angela Merkel in Germany. You have liberal leaders across Europe. You have this feeling that, you know, there's this migration crisis and it's time to help these people, right? And, you know, we've got to find a solution to this.