Pope Francis Man of the Year 2013 [All-in-one Super-de-dooper thread]

Micky Dolenz · 12-12-2013 12:08AM

The entire list, while it is interesting reading, should be taken with a large pinch of salt.

Amirani · 12-12-2013 12:10AM

Snowden should've got it. Whatever you think of him, he's clearly made a bigger impact on the World over the past year. I'd probably have Assad ahead of the pope also.

jobeenfitz · 12-12-2013 12:12AM

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Heh. Try and be more open to what other people believe, it will serve you well. I'm not saying believe it, just don't insult it.

Thats a fair point but I still think it's a delusional belief. I just should not have called the person delusional.

Cian92 · 12-12-2013 12:17AM

jobeenfitz wrote: »

He believes in the god fairytale, Thats delusional.

Oh Christ! The atheist has begun pontificating.

castletownman · 12-12-2013 12:27AM

And no sign of Davy Fitz amongst the nominations.

The world is gone mad

Neyite · 12-12-2013 12:33AM

efb wrote: »

Francis has made a siesmic shift in Catholic Hierarchy focus, this is a very good thing.

Rabelais wrote: »

An inspirational man. Bringing the very humanistic concepts of Christianity to a wider audience. A true reformer. Less focusing on the matters of the bedroom, and more on how we exist as sentient beings on this planet. If I was to have any criticism of him, it's that he believes in Socialism as a fundamentally humanistic concept.

Very positive though. A true thought leader.

He'll probably get bumped off like Pope John Paul I.

Cookie_Monster · 12-12-2013 12:38AM

efb wrote: »

Francis has made a siesmic shift in Catholic Hierarchy focus, this is a very good thing.

you mean they're going to give up their enormously cushy lives, get rid of all their wealth and live humbly as they actually preach?... No, didn't think so.

Jester252 · 12-12-2013 12:41AM

NiallSparky wrote: »

Snowden should've got it. Whatever you think of him, he's clearly made a bigger impact on the World over the past year. I'd probably have Assad ahead of the pope also.

Snowden is only talked about on the internet, you rarely hear someone talking about him outside of the internet.

K-9 · 12-12-2013 02:11AM

TIME's Person of the Year 2013 Pope Francis, The People's Pope | TIME.com

But what makes this Pope so important is the speed with which he has captured the imaginations of millions who had given up on hoping for the church at all. People weary of the endless parsing of sexual ethics, the buck-passing infighting over lines of authority when all the while (to borrow from Milton), “the hungry Sheep look up, and are not fed.” In a matter of months, Francis has elevated the healing mission of the church—the church as servant and comforter of hurting people in an often harsh world—above the doctrinal police work so important to his recent predecessors. John Paul II and Benedict XVI were professors of theology. Francis is a former janitor, nightclub bouncer, chemical technician and literature teacher.

As the article outlines, there isn't much hope for change with women priests, abortion or homosexuality but at least there's a more understanding side from this pope. I've lost faith with the church along time ago, doubt I'll be back any time soon, but he has been a breathe of fresh air this year, the humility rather touching, what a pope should be.

So, does he deserve the award, if not, who did?

Tigger · 12-12-2013 02:20AM

Jim Gavin

Red Kev · 12-12-2013 02:20AM

TIME person of the year doesn't necessarily go to the "best Person of the Year", it goes to the person who "for better or for worse, ...has done the most to influence the events of the year" (wiki).

Hitler has won it in the past as have a few other of his ilk (Stalin, Ayatollah Khomeini)

What Pope Francis will achieve long term waits to be seen, but he has at least opened some discussions that until a few months ago were taboo in the Church.

On the basis of the past few months, he's the most progressive Pope we've have for decades, admittedly the competition hasn't been very challenging for that honour but it's a start.

dreamers75 · 12-12-2013 02:23AM

Liam Buckley.

junkies4life.

wretcheddomain · 12-12-2013 02:29AM

It's the only time he'll be on top - it's all the way down for the Catholic Church and may it rot.

Manach · 12-12-2013 02:31AM

I think it is a positive move and hopefully re-engagement of with Catholic social teachings as a viable alternative as opposed to the liberal PCism mindset that is prevalent in today's society.

Amirani · 12-12-2013 02:31AM

Manach wrote: »

I think it is a positive move and hopefully re-engagement of with Catholic social teachings as a viable alternative as opposed to the liberal PCism mindset that is prevalent in today's society.

Shoe-in for comedian of the year.

Canis Lupus · 12-12-2013 02:46AM

PR man gets Time magazines person of the year.... meh..

Amirani · 12-12-2013 03:05AM

Jester252 wrote: »

Snowden is only talked about on the internet, you rarely hear someone talking about him outside of the internet.

It wouldn't just be Snowden that would be getting the "award", it'd be the concept of whistleblowing and defence of privacy. TIME has selected similar "people" before.

Can't remember the last time somebody talked to me about the pope either.

shruikan2553 · 12-12-2013 03:36AM

So what has he actually done? Sure he talks a lot but what has changed? He got an opinion peace in the local newspaper? It's like obama getting the nobel peace prize years ago. I think I'll say I have an idea on how to create faster than light travel and get myself a nobel prize.

Arawn · 12-12-2013 03:42AM

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Heh. Try and be more open to what other people believe, it will serve you well. I'm not saying believe it, just don't insult it.

As the catholics did during the inquisition??

Pffft if you want to truely not insult another religion go become a monghul

banquo · 12-12-2013 03:58AM

Arawn wrote: »

As the catholics did during the inquisition??

Pffft if you want to truely not insult another religion go become a monghul

This is the saddest use of logic in an argument I have ever read.

up for anything · 12-12-2013 04:03AM

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

The entire list, while it is interesting reading, should be taken with a large pinch of salt.

Hitler, Stalin, Nixon amongst others.

:D

Jester252 · 12-12-2013 04:33AM

NiallSparky wrote: »

It wouldn't just be Snowden that would be getting the "award", it'd be the concept of whistleblowing and defence of privacy. TIME has selected similar "people" before.

Can't remember the last time somebody talked to me about the pope either.

Compared to the Pope and the Catholic church topics like that are rarely talked about by the average person. The whole thing on privacy is very much a internet person gambit.
Also look at it this way. Giving it to the Pope opens sales of the magazine towards one of the biggest religions in the world and it also has people, like yourself, wondering why it wasn't given to Snowden thus promoting the magazine. In a weird way you wondering why Snowden didn't get it kinda supports them picking the Pope as you have more than likely talked more about the Times magazine than you would have if Snowden won.

NBTD · 12-12-2013 05:50AM

Jester252 wrote: »

Compared to the Pope and the Catholic church topics like that are rarely talked about by the average person. The whole thing on privacy is very much a internet person gambit.
Also look at it this way. Giving it to the Pope opens sales of the magazine towards one of the biggest religions in the world and it also has people, like yourself, wondering why it wasn't given to Snowden thus promoting the magazine. In a weird way you wondering why Snowden didn't get it kinda supports them picking the Pope as you have more than likely talked more about the Times magazine than you would have if Snowden won.

Who would you consider the "average person"? The hundred or so people you meet from one end of the week to another?

According to this link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-21443313
there are an estimated 1.2 billion Roman Catholics in the world so irrespective of how you feel about it, there is no denying the pope is an influential position. Add in the fact that this pope seems to be relatively progressive and it is a logical choice.

As stated numerously already, it is not an award, or a measure of popularity

Edit: Mis-read your post, initially I thought you were suggesting the average person does not talk about the Catholic Church. Carry on

speedboatchase · 12-12-2013 05:59AM

Deleted User wrote: »

What has Pope Francis actually done? I mean I get it that he's better than the last guy, but what has he done to deserve person of the year? I would much rather Malala Yousafzai get it, for her work in Afghanistan at such a young age or many other people who would be more deserving.

Malala was runner-up last year. 2012 was very much her year by comparison to this year; the main reason she's been in the news lately has been because of her book.

Optimalprimerib · 12-12-2013 06:14AM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

A person from the chruch getting named man of the year? que athiest snarky comments in ..

5....
4.....
3....
2.....
1....

I think I am beginning to helieve In god again. Why? Because I ****ing hate athiests.

bumper234 · 12-12-2013 07:55AM

Jester252 wrote: »

Snowden is only talked about on the internet, you rarely hear someone talking about him outside of the internet.

What??? Are you being serious? I have certainly had more conversations (offline) abouts Snowden this year than I have the pope!

rustedtrumpet · 12-12-2013 08:03AM

Awesome thread title

gramar · 12-12-2013 08:12AM

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

Miley Cyrus was on the 'shortlist' for this which makes me kinda want to drown some kittens in a bathtub chanting praise to Satan for some reason.

Miley Cyrus on the shortlist (or should that be short shorts list) must take good out of it for Francis.

TwoShedsJackson · 12-12-2013 10:55AM

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Heh. Try and be more open to what other people believe, it will serve you well. I'm not saying believe it, just don't insult it.

Would you apply the same to someone who believes in unicorns or even homeopathy? Beliefs shouldn't be above questioning or disagreement simply because they are religious in nature.

As to the topic, the current Pope is a massive improvement over the previous couple but let's face it that wouldn't be difficult, particularly Ratzinger.

Jester252 · 12-12-2013 10:58AM

bumper234 wrote: »

What??? Are you being serious? I have certainly had more conversations (offline) abouts Snowden this year than I have the pope!

Note that word. When was the last time Snowden was talked about on the radio or T.V? Face it the average joe doesn't care about Snowden

Pope Francis Man of the Year 2013 [All-in-one Super-de-dooper thread]

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