atheists: why did many of you hate pope benedict but like/not mind the current pope?

I think that for most Atheists they were envious of Pope Benedict's intellect. In the history of the Church Pope Benedict is one of the greatest theologians the Church has ever produced. I feel priveledged to have lived in a generation exposed to such mental brilliance. It is like living in the time of St. Augustine or St. Thomas Aquinas. It is humbling that Pope Benedict is a contemporary.

The current Pope sometimes comes across as out of touch with the social realities of the world. He should not speak on these topics that he knows so little about. When it comes to evangelism and the social problems within the world he can bring them to the forefront but obviously does not have a viable solution or a keen grasp of the problems. The simple message should be to do all things in love and be aware of the needs of the poor so that we can serve them better as a Church and as individuals. He speaks well in this context. God bless!

In Christ

Fr. Joseph

Not many people read books, even authored by the Pope, much less know what he said, unless it makes international press

I don't like the new guy any more than I did the old one. I think the new guy's just window dressing. The fact that, unlike Ratzinger, he has a nice smile doesn't change the fact that he's part of an organization that has been harmful throughout its existence. Whether it was inquisitions, the torture and killing of jews and "heretics," the abuse of children, including rape and covering it up, denouncing the use of condoms, and outright lying that they cause the spread of STD's, fighting against equal rights for homosexuals, fighting to prevent women from using birth control or have abortions, and on and on. There's nothing to like about him or his organization.

I had no opinion on Pope Benedict other than the fact that he looked like the Dark Lord of the Sith. The current pope is progressive though, and I like progress.

You are looking at him with rose colored glasses. His church is so fractured that the only way to possibly hold it together was to resign. He was a radical, hateful fundamentalist. He was NOT popular with most Catholics.

Francis is an improvement, but until he treats women as equals and worthy, he is just another self-righteous pope.

arent all popes the same. why hate 1 more than another,but then why hate.

of cause he was popular with catholics , hes the pope after all.

are his books going to be made into movies? if not they cannot be very good.

the twilight books sucked and they made them into movies

Pope Benedict didn't do jack **** for the cause. Pope Francis is seriously bringing out real social issues and addressing them. Sorry if I feel a guy who quit the papacy sucked when they bring in someone who actually seems like they want to socially reform Catholics.

He didn't resemble a rabbit in saint peters eyes

I would think atheists should embrace the pope because there is no other more obvious figure who works AGAINST Christianity.

You don't have to be THAT good to look ok when compared to the previous pontiff.