May the new Pope foster dialogue between all Christians so that we move closer to each other as the Body of Christ. I pray for mutual understanding between all our different approaches to knowing and following Jesus and that all may come to know Him.

Lord, make Francis an instrument of your peace.

The good news is that the new pope is a theological and social conservative who opposes gay marriage. This means that the single most influential institution opposing the gay agenda, the Roman Catholic Church, will remain so for the near future. Anyone who approves or encourages the sins of homosexuality will have to answer to God for it (Leviticus 19:1; Isaiah 5:20; Malachi 2:17; Matthew 5:19-20; Matthew 18:6; Romans 14:22).

After all the talk on TV, the Cardinals elected a Catholic!

His name is not "Pope Francis I". It's simply "Pope Francis", for now, until there is a "Pope Francis II", at which point he will be known as "Pope Francis I".

The Holy Spirit has moved! Pray that Francis can help bring Christian unity and a spirit of ecumemicsm!

These comments by pipo represents a calumny somewhat popular in his country.

I can't imagine who made this pathetic attempt to translate the calumny into English.

Thanks very much for giving us this valuable opinion from Rev. Venable.
At some points Bergoglio was acused of collaboration with the military junta of the 1970's and 1980's and some of their criminal abuses. However, he denied that. Much has been said about his simple lifestyle.
Peace
Samuel Escobar

As a former Roman Catholic who has been an Evangelical since 1972, I must say that the pope (and the papacy) is a man-made institution without any biblical support whatsoever. Therefore, I cannot and will not acknowledge or endorse his spiritual authority or legitimacy.

Victor, as a former Evangelical who is now a Catholic, you simply could not be more mistaken in your ideas about the papacy (established by Christ Himself) and the Scriptures.

Dwight, show me in the bible where it tells us to rely on another's direct interpretation to be required to be a true Christian. There is no need for a direct mediary between a Christian and God, and there never will be. The holy spirit does that well enough. Inserting a man, who is by nature, fallible, only presents the opportunity for misinterpretation of God.

Victor, Dwight, Mao: There is no Biblical mandate for one particular person or office to stand supreme of the Church's earthly leadership. But there is no Biblical mandate opposing such a form of leadership, either. What Jesus said to Simon Peter at the time that Peter proclaimed Jesus to be the Christ, was an acclamation of the statement, not the man who had stated it; the Holy Spirit was the true author of that statement. The mouth that was filled by the Holy Spirit for that statement, was the same mouth that five minutes later was filled by Satan's voice!

Rightly or wrongly, the head of the Church of Rome at the Basilica of St. Peter is regarded by about half of the professing Christian population world -wide as being the legitimate ultimate adjudicator and interpreter of the Church on the earth. That fact alone makes the question of who holds that office at any given time such a critical issue for the world. I am just as glad to see that it is in the hands of a humble, conscientious man who takes the Bible and its message seriously and literally, and who believes that action lends power to the words one uses. If only more of his kind could be brought forward in all branches of the church in these troubled times.

The question is, does this 'Bible believing leader' believe that Mary was born without sin? Does he believe that Mary is the co-redeemer? Does he believe that Mary can make intercession for us? Or do we engage in double-speak when we say that the principle leader of the Catholic church (who pressumably has promised, somewhere along the line, to uphold the Catholic Church´s teaching) believes the Bible? It´s great to know that he is a humble man, and it's great to know he prays, but surely we need to know what he believes as well.

NO reason to celebrate. There is no "Holy Spirit" leading here. If you are educated in History, Warfare or Theology, you already know this man's sordid past. In Argentina, during a Dictatorial Reign of Terror in the 70's and 80's, while 30,000 Civilians; men women and children, were murdered in the streets, Cardinal Bergolio demanded SILENCE from his colleagues, and complaince by civilians. He actually cooperated with the Dictatorship. Jesuits are notorious for their policy of "Non-Interference" with governments, good or bad. Translation; Jesuits will ALWAYS come out on top, not taking any sides. Later, when the Argentine People threw off the Dictatorship, this man refused to offer any help with the civil trials for murder, war crimes and persecution. His agenda is the recruitment of more Third World, poor, ignorant Sheep who will support their International Child Molesters and Friends Crime Syndicate. No, the Holy Ghost does not choose Enemies of Human Rights.

I'm sure the new pope has many good qualities. However, the papacy as a system has shown itself over the centuries to be a corrupt and persecuting power which has incorporated many pagan, non-biblical teachings and given them a "Christian" appearance.

I am glad that this man is thought to be humble and I hope that Greg Venables is correct that the new pope believes the Bible. The only way we will know that to be true is if pope Francis overturns centuries of Roman Catholic teachings about Mary, including their current teaching that Mary is an alternate way to salvation. Jesus said "no man comes unto the father but by me." Until the pope and the rest of the Roman Catholic chrch repents of its heretical teachings and beliefs, we must view them as being on the same level as any other cult.

May the Lord help our Pope to consider ecumenism especially the African Traditional Religion which has many followers in Africa as well as in the diaspora with a view of uniting humanity

It is a terrible thing for men to know so much more than Jesus Himself & also to negate the gentility of the Holy Spirit by condemning outrightly what they know obviously nothing about. This lack of knowledge is not because they are illiterate but because of their sentimental refusal t know. I as a catholic was made a fool of, when I realized that I know not so much about the faith I professed all my life when I read the book - ROME SWEET HOME, MY JOURNEY TO CATHOLICISM, written by a pentecostal preacher who was led to become a catholic by God.
We will all stand before God to render the account of our stewardship - all these complainants(Phil.2:14-16) & the Pope himself. I think the daily war against the flesh & vices and for virtues are more than enough for these complainants. When the Apostles complained like these people, Jesus told them to leave them. In order words, He told them to mine their business.
Everything you want to know about Mary is in the Bible. It is not the Catholic Church that honored Mary, it was God Himself(Lk.1:26-30), we are only following suit, & also on her fruitful intercession(Jn.2:3-11)
What do we say about the people who wanted to stone a woman caught in adultery? Jesus told her, "neither do I condemn you"(Jn.8:3-11).
This worry should have been well founded if God had told these people that they will not enter heaven except they transform every catholic. Tnx and God bless.
Chika.

Argentina has few Anglicans and even fewer Anglo-Catholics, so no wonder his comments about the Ordinariates -in the context of S. America.
We should fully expect him to reach out to Anglicans & Episcopalians in compromised regions where their leadership is abandoning traditional Christian teachings. Where the leadership is creedal and evangelical however, expect positive signals from him - such as those in the Anglican Global South and the Anglican Church in N. America. PB Katharine Jefferts Schori and the leftist majority in the American Episcopal Church should expect chilly civility but little else.

I see lots of hatred for the Universal Church in the comments above. May the Holy Spirit guide those so mistaken.

1. If this pope means what he says then he will repay the South American countries what they have stolen from them over the centuries. Also R.C. need to help their South European countries with all the billions of dollars they have stolen over the years from the working people and keeping their billions of dollars in the Swiss banks.
Mean while we help their poor to survive, as well we support their corrupt R.C. governments were as the people would rather have communists running their countries.
2. R.C. by their own actions and belief prove they are NOT Christians.
a). by making so many changes in their religion not Biblical.
b). They do not believe the basic Bible Message, i.e.
Salvation is "by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

Mr Alex Donnelly
You not have any idea about your comment, Father Berbgoglio , today Francisco, had a lot the work en that time, please do not forget , your goberments support the militars in all South America............
Is a goog news, the Pope Francisco believe in Jesus like a Savior and believe in the Bible and he considered your self like a one sinner.
From Argentina,
Daniel Bongarra

This article does not mention that Pope Francis has a Masters degree in chemistry, a doctorate in theology and is fluent in 4 languages.

Mr Gilbert Gerbrandt,
Please don't kill yourself. Don't condemn yourself ignorantly. The second Reading in the Mass throughout the whole Catholic world on Sunday 17/3/2013 was taken from Philippians 3:8-14. The teaching is on "righteousness that is by faith, and in Christ and not by works".
In the first place, God has not told you to distinguish those who are Christians or not - Rom.14:4. More so when the Apostles, acting like you, wanted to stop the people who were using the Name of Jesus but were not with them, Jesus told them to leave them alone. Luke 9:49-50.
Jesus justifies, Devil is the accuser of brethren. Check in whose camp you fall into & which of them you are carrying out his ministry. Thank you. May God bless you and give you the focus on how to make your own calling and election sure so that you don't go without dealing with the log of hatred and self appraisal - Proverbs 27:2, Matthew 5:43-48, Matthew 7:1-5, in your own eyes.
Meanwhile the Bible does not precede the Church. It is the Church that wrote and compiled the Bible you have. The whole world cannot contain what Jesus did - John 21:25. St Paul advises that we focus also on traditions as well as the Bible - 2 Thessalonians 2:15.
Please try and read your Bible, you hear? Thanks
Chika

In "Letters to Malcolm" C. S. Lewis wrote "We seldom find agreement when we speak. We may find agreement when we act." Let's hope that's true and get busy with the work God has given us to do. The unbelieving world of the first century world was not impressed by the church's tight theology and doctrinal purity, but instead was amazed at how Christians actually loved one another. Would that be true today?