An expert on the Catholic Church says Pope Francis will be a different pope from his predecessors. Father Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest visited Buffalo this week. Father Reese said the new pontiff has management experience running a Jesuit province and as archbishop of Buenos Aires.
Father Reese appeared at Canisius College. He is a member of the same religious order as the new pope. He teaches at the Jesuit’s Georgetown University and has written several management books about the Catholic Church.
Father Reese is a former editor of the magazine America which brought him attacks for reporting on controversial religious issues.
The Jesuit said the new pope has learned from the success of Evangelical Christianity in Latin America.
Father Reese said he expects Pope Francis to stress different positions.
"Christianity should not be presented as a series of no's, like a nagging parent. But should be presented as a yes, a yes to Jesus, a yes to love, a yes to just a yes to concern for justice, a yes to the poor, a yes to community. This is what we should be about," said Father Reese.
Father Reese said the new pope comes from a different church background as a member of the Jesuit order, rather than someone who worked his way up in the traditional church structure and as a manager. Reese said that is something the last two popes lacked.
