Pope Francis, Known for Simplicity and Conservatism

Early reports about Pope Francis point to an anti-globalization streak, in that he has spoken out against the “evils of globalization.” But such characterizations center on a narrow definition of globalization, restricting the phenomenon to financial activities. In his first address, Pope Francis asked, “Let us pray for the whole world that there might be a great sense of brotherhood.” The selection of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio marks a new era in Catholicism and its more than 1 billion followers. From Argentina, the son of Italian immigrants, he is the first Latin American to serve as pope and the first Jesuit, an order that takes a vow of poverty and is renowned for its support of education, free thought and tolerance for other religions. Pope Francis has a conservative track record, too, with opposition to marriage equality. Still, Anthony Faiola of the Washington Post suggests the man “represents a flashback to an old-school view of the Catholic leaders as humble, soft-spoken clerics who walked among their flock and led by example.” – YaleGlobal