I really like the new pope

Smootchy

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/52969796/ns/world_news-the_new_york_times/#.Ui9nsdLkv6c 

a few weeks ago I saw that he was taking "selfies" with a group of tweens (or whatever age they were) 

I like him 

LaurelBee

Agreed. I saw a post on reddit that said he personally called a homosexual man bc he was having a really rough time with his faith and sexual orientation. The guy wrote a letter to the pope about his struggles. He claims the pope called and said, "God created you just the way you are. Who am I to judge that?" Or something like that. I think he is going to do great things for gays and the church.

shakes

He's a good man.

In my opinion he sets the bar for Catholics, esp those who live at The Vatican and work for the church. A reminder of what it meant to be about. No need for opulence and judgement. Just a simple man doing good things for other people. I am comfortable with him making serious decisions. I am impressed with the small changes he's made to remind Catholics of humble beginnings. The best and most effective example is the Papal throne. He changed it back to a wooden chair, had the gold removed from the Papal stole, refused the red Papal shoes, uses a metal cross instead of the golden cross with rubies and diamonds, his Papal ring is silver, removed the red carpet and wears his regular black priest clothes under the cassock. I know these things don't seem like a huge deal but they are. They set the standard he expects of himself and others. His heart lies with the poor and downtrodden. As it should.

That being said I don't think we will see huge sweeping changes to the doctrine. I think a complete break from JPII or Benedict would cause him to be taken far less seriously and would set up for failure what he is trying to accomplish in what little time he has. I read someone else's quote that said something to the effect of Francis will undo the chains of the past and it's up to the future clergy to keep that momentum going. Time will tell how much he does accomplish in his Papacy and I hope it's a lot.  

RondackHiker

The cold call pope?

I think I love him as well.