New Pope is an intelligent man who will get the church back to basics (From Stroud News and Journal)

New Pope is an intelligent man who will get the church back to basics

10:13am Thursday 14th March 2013 in News By Kate Wilson, Reporter

THE election of Pope Francis I has been welcomed in Stroud.

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio is the first Latin American, first Jesuit and first Pope Francis to lead the world’s Catholics.

Argentinean born with Italian parents Pope Francis, 76, was elected yesterday evening, Wednesday, with over two-thirds of the vote.

Cannon Tom Gunning of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Beeches Green, Stroud, said how ‘pleasantly surprised’ he was by the choice.

"It is a great decision for the Church because I think he is a very intelligent man and someone who will get the church back to basics," said Cannon Gunning.

"In Buenos Aires he would use public transport and cook his own meals which is completely different from how most cardinals and bishops live.

"He will make no changes to religious doctrine but what I see him changing is the style in which the Vatican delivers doctrine to the people.

"There has been a lot of talk that he has no experience in Italy, and dealing with Vatican bureaucrats but he seems like a man who will not be put off and someone who will not shy away from making difficult decisions.

"There is currently no department for safeguarding children within the church and this is something that would be good to see put in place by the new Pope."