Like many around the world, my wife and I recently watched the news coverage following the death of Pope Francis. We even decided to re-watch the 2024 film Conclave (excellent in many ways, but with a disappointing and unrealistic ending, based on a novel by Robert Harris).
It was quite unexpected to have a Pope chosen from the United States for the first time. Living in Illinois my entire life, I’ve enjoyed seeing the excitement from many friends and family members about choosing a Pope from Chicago, one who attended a White Sox World Series game in 2005.
Although raised Roman Catholic, I have been an elder in a conservative Protestant denomination for nearly 30 years. I have nothing against Pope Leo XIV, who is the leader of 1.4 billion Roman Catholics, and only hope that he will lean on the Lord as he leads, and be more conservative than the previous Pope was on social issues. Continue reading →