Megan Basham

Well, I think certainly, Georgia, he's going to be remembered as something of a progressive reformer. In 2013, shortly after he was elected, he made his famously controversial statement about gay priests saying, who am I to judge? And then in 2015, his encyclical called for environmental action. That's something he continually urged world leaders to do to address climate change.

Well, I think certainly, Georgia, he's going to be remembered as something of a progressive reformer. In 2013, shortly after he was elected, he made his famously controversial statement about gay priests saying, who am I to judge? And then in 2015, his encyclical called for environmental action. That's something he continually urged world leaders to do to address climate change.

And then during his last Easter address on Sunday, directly after meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance, he warned politicians against stirring up anti-migrant sentiments. Immigration, of course, was an issue that he spoke about frequently, like in this interview with CBS's Nora O'Donnell last year.

And then during his last Easter address on Sunday, directly after meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance, he warned politicians against stirring up anti-migrant sentiments. Immigration, of course, was an issue that he spoke about frequently, like in this interview with CBS's Nora O'Donnell last year.

But that said, his papacy wasn't as transformative as some theological progressives would have liked. He did endorse civil unions for same-sex couples. That was a historic move for a pope. And he approved a document saying that priests could bless gay couples. But he also upheld this church's stance that marriage is between a man and a woman.

But that said, his papacy wasn't as transformative as some theological progressives would have liked. He did endorse civil unions for same-sex couples. That was a historic move for a pope. And he approved a document saying that priests could bless gay couples. But he also upheld this church's stance that marriage is between a man and a woman.

So he stopped short of that full affirmation that so many LGBTQ activists were looking for. He also refused to approve the use of contraceptives or ordaining women to the priesthood. And plus, he was always a very strong advocate for the sanctity of life. And that was something that conservatives certainly cheered.

So he stopped short of that full affirmation that so many LGBTQ activists were looking for. He also refused to approve the use of contraceptives or ordaining women to the priesthood. And plus, he was always a very strong advocate for the sanctity of life. And that was something that conservatives certainly cheered.

They did, and I'd say that's because beyond his overall more progressive positions, he also took actions to suppress a conservative resurgence in the church. In 2021, he started severely restricting the celebration of the Latin Mass, and that was a reversal from the previous Pope Benedict.

They did, and I'd say that's because beyond his overall more progressive positions, he also took actions to suppress a conservative resurgence in the church. In 2021, he started severely restricting the celebration of the Latin Mass, and that was a reversal from the previous Pope Benedict.

He argued that that right, which conservatives cherish, was being used to foster division and to reject Vatican II's liturgical reforms. But traditional communities felt targeted by that. And further, Francis took steps to curb the influence of conservative prelates who viewed his reforms as a threat to church tradition.

He argued that that right, which conservatives cherish, was being used to foster division and to reject Vatican II's liturgical reforms. But traditional communities felt targeted by that. And further, Francis took steps to curb the influence of conservative prelates who viewed his reforms as a threat to church tradition.

One example of that, in 2014, he removed conservative cardinals like Raymond Burke, a vocal critic from a key Vatican post, He also appointed more moderate and progressive bishops to various roles of authority and elevated like-minded clerics to the College of Cardinals. And because of this, you have a lot of critics accusing him of stacking the deck and stifling dissent.

One example of that, in 2014, he removed conservative cardinals like Raymond Burke, a vocal critic from a key Vatican post, He also appointed more moderate and progressive bishops to various roles of authority and elevated like-minded clerics to the College of Cardinals. And because of this, you have a lot of critics accusing him of stacking the deck and stifling dissent.

But that said, Father Robert Sirico, former president of the conservative Acton Institute, did tell Morning Wire that he thinks the accusations of Francis being a Marxist go too far.

But that said, Father Robert Sirico, former president of the conservative Acton Institute, did tell Morning Wire that he thinks the accusations of Francis being a Marxist go too far.

Yeah, and those are some really fascinating trends right now. Last year, we reported on the surge of Catholic conversions among young people in New York City, but there's evidence that this trend is happening in a variety of nations in Europe as well. According to the Bishop's Conference of France, more than 10,000 adults were baptized into the Roman Catholic Church on Easter Sunday.

Yeah, and those are some really fascinating trends right now. Last year, we reported on the surge of Catholic conversions among young people in New York City, but there's evidence that this trend is happening in a variety of nations in Europe as well. According to the Bishop's Conference of France, more than 10,000 adults were baptized into the Roman Catholic Church on Easter Sunday.

And they say that that is the largest wave of conversions in at least two decades. And it's mostly coming from young adults between the ages of 18 and 25. And then something similar is happening in England where surveys now show that Catholics outnumber Anglicans by about two to one among Gen Z and younger millennials.

And they say that that is the largest wave of conversions in at least two decades. And it's mostly coming from young adults between the ages of 18 and 25. And then something similar is happening in England where surveys now show that Catholics outnumber Anglicans by about two to one among Gen Z and younger millennials.