Pope Leo XIV is proclaimed as new leader of the Roman Catholic Church

[-:Undertaker:-]

Pope Leo XIV is proclaimed as new leader of the Roman Catholic Church

White smoke billowed out of the chimney over the Vatican as the Papal Conclave chose the 69 year old American, Robert Provost - now known as Pope Leo XIV - and proclaimed him as earthly leader of the Roman Catholic Church from the Sistine Chapel balcony

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We have a new Bishop of Rome and spirital leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

He appears to be a middle of the road choice between different wings of the RCC, although we shall see through his actions. An encouraging sign is that on his balcony appearance, he has brought back the traditional Papal vestments which the previous Pope had dropped, so that's a good start in my book.

I've now lived under four Popes: John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Francis, Leo XIV.

Thoughts?

[-:Undertaker:-]

I'm an Anglican but my family is split equally between Anglicans and Roman Catholics so I identify with both churches comfortably, but I have to say the way the Church of Rome choose their spirital leader is far superior to the Church of England. Locking the Cardinals away in the heavenly Sistine Chapel until they agree on a Pope took a couple of days and four rounds of voting - meanwhile the Church of England is still waiting for a new Archbishop of Canterbury and is consulting 11,000 people on it. Where's the magic? The majesty? It's run like a Liberal Democrat council of jobsworths. Let's lock the CoE hierarchy in Lambeth Palace or Canterbury cathedral until they can nominate someone to The King.

Also, an interesting photo I came across on Twitter linking the past with present.

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