The pope and the Philippines

The Supreme Leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has been in and out of the hospital due to several health issues.

- Todd Sales Lucero [e-mail]

Days ago, he finally passed on at the age of 88, and his death signals the conclave, which will bring together all eligible cardinals (those below 80 years of age) to be chosen by fellow cardinals to replace the late pope.

There were many interesting and somewhat new aspects in the election of Pope Francis after the death of John Paul II. Francis was the first Jesuit to be chosen pope and the first Latin American cardinal elevated to the papacy. Technically, however, while born in South America, both parents of Pope Francis were born Italian and meant an Italian had taken over the papacy after John Paul II's death. I was also intrigued at the election of Francis as pope since he was also the first Jesuit to become pope. As a Jesuit-educated person, I knew that the Jesuits were more liberal that other religious orders. And in my opinion, he didn't disappoint. Francis instituted many changes in policies and practices in the Vatican, making things more liberal and brining the Vatican to the twenty-first century.