Jump directly to the Content

New Pope Praised by Evangelicals

Could the papacy of Francis I include more dialogue and unity between Catholics and Evangelicals?

The news from Rome yesterday that cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aries has been elected the 266th Pope has brought swift responses from around the globe. More progressive news agencies were quick to point out Bergoglio's conservative views on homosexuality, marriage, and contraception. Others focused on the new Pope's humility and concern for the poor in his native Argentina–a quality emphasized by Bergoglio choosing the name Francis I.

Evangelicals are also expressing their thoughts on the new Pope. My friend Kevin Palau, president of the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association, emailed me yesterday with excitement. It turns out his father, Luis Palau, aslo from Argentina, is a close personal friend of Bergoglio. Luis reports that Francis I has been a good friend to evangelicals in Latin America.

A report from The Oregonian included Palau's reaction to the news:

"I exploded," Palau exclaimed. "I just couldn't believe it. In the last election, he was in the running but he told me ...
Tags:
Posted:
March
Support Our Work

Subscribe to CT for less than $4.25/month

Homepage Subscription Panel

Read These Next

From the Magazine
Should the Bible Sound Like the Language in the Streets?
Should the Bible Sound Like the Language in the Streets?
Controversy over Bibles in Jamaica, the Philippines, and Germany reveal the divide between the sacred and the relatable.
Editor's Pick
What Christians Miss When They Dismiss Imagination
What Christians Miss When They Dismiss Imagination
Understanding God and our world needs more than bare reason and experience.
close