Pope Francis a positive choice for isle Catholics

By Pat Gee

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 16, 2013

~~<p>Some Catholics are hoping that Pope Francis' empathy for the poor and his advocacy for social justice as a Jesuit priest might take the focus off hot-button political issues in which the Roman Catholic Church has become embroiled, says the Rev. Jack Ryan, who once conducted the diocese's only Spanish-language Masses on Oahu and Hawaii island.</p>
<p>Following Wednesday's historic election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first pope from South America, Ryan said, "A big chunk of Catholics, 40 percent, live in Latin America. It's going to make them feel really good … very, very special."</p>
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Some Catholics are hoping that Pope Francis' empathy for the poor and his advocacy for social justice as a Jesuit priest might take the focus off hot-button political issues in which the Roman Catholic Church has become embroiled, says the Rev. Jack Ryan, who once conducted the diocese's only Spanish-language Masses on Oahu and Hawaii island.

Following Wednesday's historic election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first pope from South America, Ryan said, "A big chunk of Catholics, 40 percent, live in Latin America. It's going to make them feel really good … very, very special." Login for more...