# Pope Francis totally fucking rocks! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 26, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596 "2015-09-26T18:41:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/1 "2015-09-26T18:41:30Z")
I am an atheist; have been all my life. But I still think Pope Francis totally fucking rocks! Today, he did this:[ > [@](#): > > Pope Francis kissed the forehead of a boy with cerebral palsy after landing in Philadelphia on Saturday morning, coaxing a small smile from the severely disabled 10-year-old. > > Francis apparently spied Michael Keating as he was being driven away from the plane. Ordering the Fiat to stop, Francis got out and walked over to the boy, put his hand on his head and kissed him as his sobbing mother looked on. > [@](#): > > Her son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 6 months old. He also has a profound intellectual disability as well as vision and hearing problems and cannot do anything for himself, communicating through various moans and cries. > > Michael, who got up 2:15 a.m. for the trip to Philadelphia, had been agitated off and on throughout the morning, but he seemed to calm in the pope’s presence. > > “When the pope took his hand off him, he had a bit of a smile on his face. To me, in that moment, he must have felt that blessing,” said Kristin Keating, a fourth-grade teacher from Elverson. > > “For us, it was beautiful,” she added. “For us, it meant something.” ]([http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_POPE\_BOY\_AT\_AIRPORT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-09-26-12-55-35](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_POPE_BOY_AT_AIRPORT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-09-26-12-55-35))Pope Francis is, IMO, a fantastic human being and the greatest Pope of my lifetime. I just cannot get over what a positive vibe he gives off, and how much of it he gives off. He’s like a freaking beacon of awesome goodwill and caring. The guy is just incredible. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/2 "2015-09-26T18:50:26Z")
Are these rocks he throws into a quarry? 😉 Snark aside I completely agree with you. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/3 "2015-09-26T18:55:28Z")
So he did something that any halfway decent person would do and he’s what…a hero? What he did was the very least he should be doing. When he’s done something with the Catholic church billions, reversed his position on contraception and HIV and allowed women an equal position in the Church then I’ll happily consider him in a more favourable light. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/4 "2015-09-26T18:57:30Z")
_Shake it off_ ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/5 "2015-09-26T19:10:08Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > So he did something that any halfway decent person would do and he’s what…a hero? Most halfway decent people on a business trip pull over their car to see if they can comfort a kid in a wheel chair? You must know a different species than I do. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/6 "2015-09-26T19:18:23Z")
It’s unfortunate that “Pope Seems to Give a Shit” is headline news, but there you go. And I agree, he does seem to actually give a shit. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/7 "2015-09-26T19:19:51Z")
So am I the only one who mistakenly read the OP as, “Pope Francis is totally fucking rocks!”? ‘Cause I know he provides a Stellerite example, but that might be taking the vow of Sellaitecy a bit too far. 🙂 But yeah, I like this pope; he’s got John Paul 2s’ charisma, but I think he’s trying harder to nudge the Catholic Church in the general direction of the 20th century. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/8 "2015-09-26T19:53:05Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Most halfway decent people on a business trip pull over their car to see if they can comfort a kid in a wheel chair? You must know a different species than I do. A businessman who’s job is to comfort people and be example to others? yes. Isn’t what he did exactly what popes are supposed to do? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/9 "2015-09-26T20:05:50Z")
I, for one, look forward to the thread [in which it is hypothesized that the Pope’s focus group planted that kid so that he could boost his Q-rating by acting like he totally cares about poor people.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=769769) ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/10 "2015-09-26T20:17:59Z")
> [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](#): > > So am I the only one who mistakenly read the OP as, “Pope Francis is totally fucking rocks!”? > > ‘Cause I know he provides a Stellerite example, but that might be taking the vow of Sellaitecy a bit too far. 🙂 > But yeah, I like this pope; he’s got John Paul 2s’ charisma, but **I think he’s trying harder to nudge the Catholic Church in the general direction of the 20th century.** This is my impression as well. However. A friend of mine posted on her Facebook page that she wishes he would quit quoting fallacies about climate change (he has a science degree) and stick to scripture and prayers. She says she doesn’t want to be proselytized about social issues. I was shocked as she’s always struck me as an intelligent, reasonable person. Catholics aren’t going to make it easy for him, but maybe his message will reach younger ones. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/11 "2015-09-26T20:27:25Z")
As I see it, Pope Francis is squarely in the traditionalist camp. Loving thy neighbor is pretty fundamental after all. It’s not like he’s overturning any doctrines. > [@Helena330](#): > > This is my impression as well. However. A friend of mine posted on her Facebook page that she wishes he would quit quoting fallacies about climate change (he has a science degree) and stick to scripture and prayers. She says she doesn’t want to be proselytized about social issues. I was shocked as she’s always struck me as an intelligent, reasonable person. > > Catholics aren’t going to make it easy for him, but maybe his message will reach younger ones. As I sure your are aware, 93% of climate scientists accept the reality of anthropogenic global warming. Drilling down, the remainder tend to have dodgy science. Not sure what to say about social issues, except that your friend appears to have chosen the wrong sect of Christianity: Popes have always commented on legislation and Catholics have always been involved in worldly matters. Maybe she’s really an Episcopalian; I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/12 "2015-09-26T20:35:13Z")
The thing that bugs me is that the Catholic church holds the position that (1) Their rules and edicts are essentially divine mandates (2) All or most of the ancient stories regarding some charismatic cult leader 2k years ago are true, including that ones that involve supernatural intervention. (3) They are a relevant code of ethics to follow/set of rules to obey/useful guidance in today’s world due to 1&2. As a rational person, I can’t possibly accept any of the 3, and I feel that if the Catholics were _really_ trying to do good they’d either disband or funnel all their wealth into useful endeavors such as R&D for a cure for death. (since they can’t credibly offer an afterlife, the only credible thing they can do is work out a way for people to not die, at least not for billions of years. This _is_ possible, albeit it might require centuries of R&D to develop.) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/13 "2015-09-26T20:38:56Z")
> [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](#): > > So am I the only one who mistakenly read the OP as, “Pope Francis is totally fucking rocks!”? From the main page it reads “Pope Francis totally fucking…” which is an attention grabber. And it was a nice story. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/14 "2015-09-26T20:56:11Z")
I’m no pope historian or anything, but I would surprised if this was NOT something that other popes had done when traveling around the world. Not saying all of them, but most. Too lazy to do the research though… ETA: Maybe it’s just that the OP is a young-un and hasn’t experienced many popes in his lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/15 "2015-09-26T21:02:20Z")
> [@Habeed](#): > > The thing that bugs me is that the Catholic church holds the position that (1) Their rules and edicts are essentially divine mandates (2) All or most of the ancient stories regarding some charismatic cult leader 2k years ago are true, including that ones that involve supernatural intervention. (3) They are a relevant code of ethics to follow/set of rules to obey/useful guidance in today’s world due to 1&2. How is this any different than Christianity? Or Islam? Or Judaism? ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/16 "2015-09-26T21:06:35Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > How is this any different than Christianity? Or Islam? Or Judaism? It isn’t. My criticism applies more or less equally to them all, they are all bullshit. I’m just calling out Catholics since this thread is about them not being quite as bad as they historically have been. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/17 "2015-09-26T21:11:53Z")
**Helena330** I wonder how your friend thought about Popes preaching on social and political issues when they were talking about fighting communism and abortion… (and don’t let her know the RCC is right onboard with evolution and vaccinations…) > [@running\_coach](#): > > How is this any different than Christianity? Well I damn sure should hope it’s no different than Christianity seeing how it’s the largest and most widespread brand thereof. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/18 "2015-09-26T21:18:06Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Well I damn sure should hope it’s no different than Christianity seeing how it’s the largest and most widespread brand thereof. I should have phrased that better. Maybe “the rest of Christianity”. I was raised Catholic so I’m aware of the division that some believe. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/19 "2015-09-26T21:20:31Z")
A disgusting fool, a puppet for a failed religion that is just as far behind as any other religion. It astounds me how stupidly people act when he speaks. He gets cheers when he says poor children should be fed, yet he forgot to bring the sandwiches. He gets cheers when he says he believes in global warming. How many cheers have you gotten for saying that, **Bo?** For me the greatest pope will be the one who says, “Hey, let’s sell all this religious and outdated bullshit we have laying around the Vatican. We could solve a lot of world hunger after an hour on eBay”, or the one who says, “bishops are now powerless in sending priests to new locations after molestation. We will now call the police immediately and defrock him while he sits in jail.” ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596/20 "2015-09-26T21:20:52Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > **Helena330** I wonder how your friend thought about Popes preaching on social and political issues when they were talking about fighting communism and abortion… > (and don’t let her know the RCC is right onboard with evolution and vaccinations…) > > Well I damn sure should hope it’s no different than Christianity seeing how it’s the largest and most widespread brand thereof. I was wondering that as well. Some differentiate Catholics from the larger set oh Christians. > [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > A businessman who’s job is to comfort people and be example to others? yes. > Isn’t what he did exactly what popes are supposed to do? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-francis-totally-fucking-rocks/732596.md?page=2)