The pope is a fascinating personality and shining a bright light. He immediately after his election changed the protocol, refused to wear the red papal shoes and the golden cross. He kept on his old black shoes and his iron cross. He doesn't live in the papal palace but in a hostel. He has direct contact to the people everywhere, which drives his security round the bend. He calls people at home, walks in the streets, refuses to use the papa mobile and so on. He has started cleaning out the secret and mafiotic finances of the church, has excommunicated the members of the Mafia, is for the priesthood of women, homosexual marriages, dialogue between the religions and the list goes on. This is not widely known but mostly information I have found in Italian newspapers. I have always been opposed to the Catholic Church especially, but this pope is my hero and a real hope. He doesn't expect to live long, though, as he has openly said.
Helen